Shear-like describes something that resembles the action or effect of shears – cutting or cleaving something with a sharp, opposing blade. It suggests a characteristic of swift, decisive, and often perpendicular separation. This can apply to physical actions, such as the splitting of rock, or more abstract concepts, like the swift reduction of costs or the sharp, cutting impact of an argument. The emphasis is on a clean, forceful separation or reduction.
Shear-like meaning with examples
- The glacier's movement exerted shear-like pressure on the rock face, leading to a dramatic split. The sheer power was evident in the cleaved stone.
- With a shear-like precision, the architect designed a series of walls that divided the space into discrete zones, creating a functional and aesthetically pleasing environment. The separation created a calm ambiance.
- The company implemented a shear-like reduction in staff to cut costs, a painful, yet necessary, decision for the firm's survival, which ultimately had a significant impact on employee's lives.
- The critic's words had a shear-like effect on the film's reputation; with a few precise phrases, he demolished the picture, sending the director into a despair.