# sharp vs shear

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### sharp
*adjective · IPA /ʃɑːp/ · frequency rank #3,136*
Terminating in a point or edge, especially one that can cut or pierce easily; not dull, obtuse, or rounded.

### shear
*verb · IPA /ʃɪə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #17,239*
To remove the fleece from (a sheep, llama, etc.) by clipping.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sharp-vs-shear