Sheer meaning

What does “sheer” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“sheer” is a verb, adjective and adverb with 8 meanings. Its most common meaning is: turn sharply; change direction abruptly.

sheer

turn sharply; change direction abruptly
“The car cut to the left at the intersection”
“The motorbike veered to the right”
Synonymsswerve curve trend veer slue slew cut
cause to sheer
“She sheered her car around the obstacle”

complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
“absolute freedom”
“an absolute dimwit”
Synonymsabsolute downright out-and-out rank right-down
not mixed with extraneous elements
“plain water”
“sheer wine”
Synonymsplain unmingled unmixed
very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front
“a bluff headland”
“where the bold chalk cliffs of England rise”
Synonymsbluff bold
so thin as to transmit light
“a hat with a diaphanous veil”
“filmy wings of a moth”
Synonymsdiaphanous filmy gauzy gauze-like gossamer see-through transparent vaporous

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University