cut and sheer share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. cut means “separate with or as if with an instrument”. sheer means “complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers”. cut is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈkʌt/
1.v.separate with or as if with an instrument
“Cut the rope”
2.v.cut down on; make a reduction in
“reduce your daily fat intake”
3.v.turn sharply; change direction abruptly
“The car cut to the left at the intersection”
/ˈʃɪɹ/
1.adj.complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
“absolute freedom”
2.adj.not mixed with extraneous elements
“plain water”
3.adj.very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front
“a bluff headland”
| cut | sheer | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈkʌt/ | /ˈʃɪɹ/ |
| Said | kuht | shir |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Letters | 3 | 5 |
| Parts of speech | verb, noun, adjective | adjective, verb, adverb |
| Senses | 70 | 8 |
| How common | Core | Common |
| Synonyms | none recorded | absolute, downright, out-and-out |
Full entry for cut · Full entry for sheer · More comparisons