Be shorn of
verb phrase
To have something important taken away.
After the disastrous policy, the government was shorn of any credibility.
Often appears as...
- shorn of dignity
- shorn of credibility
Usage tips
Formal
Idiomatic
verb phrase
To remove the wool or hair from (an animal).
The sheep were shorn of their wool.
Often appears as...
- shorn of wool
- shorn of hair
Usage tips
Neutral
verb phrase
To have something important taken away.
After the disastrous policy, the government was shorn of any credibility.
Often appears as...
- shorn of dignity
- shorn of credibility
Usage tips
Formal
Idiomatic
verb phrase
To remove the wool or hair from (an animal).
The sheep were shorn of their wool.
Often appears as...
- shorn of wool
- shorn of hair
Usage tips
Neutral
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Metaphorical Loss
Imagine something important being physically taken from you. This phrase conveys a similar metaphorical sense of loss.
When they lost the lawsuit, the company was shorn of its reputation.
Pro Tip 2/3Emphasizes Impact
Use 'be shorn of' to highlight the significant negative impact of losing something valuable.
The director was shorn of control over the project.
Pro Tip 3/3Intensity of Loss
This phrase is often used to underscore a stripping away that is thorough and can be humiliating or damaging.
The scandal left the politician shorn of any support.
Pro Tip 1/3Metaphorical Loss
Imagine something important being physically taken from you. This phrase conveys a similar metaphorical sense of loss.
When they lost the lawsuit, the company was shorn of its reputation.
Pro Tip 2/3Emphasizes Impact
Use 'be shorn of' to highlight the significant negative impact of losing something valuable.
The director was shorn of control over the project.
Pro Tip 3/3Intensity of Loss
This phrase is often used to underscore a stripping away that is thorough and can be humiliating or damaging.
The scandal left the politician shorn of any support.
Pro Tip 1/3Metaphorical Loss
Imagine something important being physically taken from you. This phrase conveys a similar metaphorical sense of loss.
When they lost the lawsuit, the company was shorn of its reputation.
Pro Tip 2/3Emphasizes Impact
Use 'be shorn of' to highlight the significant negative impact of losing something valuable.
The director was shorn of control over the project.
Pro Tip 3/3Intensity of Loss
This phrase is often used to underscore a stripping away that is thorough and can be humiliating or damaging.
The scandal left the politician shorn of any support.
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