Shorn

The adjective 'shorn' describes something that has been cut or clipped off, especially hair or wool. It implies a removal of something that was previously present and often suggests a neat or clean appearance as a result. The word carries a sense of reduction, divestment, or the loss of a defining characteristic. It can be applied literally to physical objects like animals and crops or figuratively to abstract concepts like power or influence.

Shorn meaning with examples

• The sheep, shorn of their thick winter coats, now grazed contentedly in the summer pasture. Their wool was gathered and sent to the textile mill. The process was done to provide comfort for the animals during the warmer months and create a useful resource to weave clothing and other materials.
• The once-lush meadows were shorn of their vibrant wildflowers by the hungry cattle. Their owners now realized they could use the wildflower patch to sell to local businesses, and now needed to wait for the plants to grow back again.
• The prisoner, shorn of his long beard and flowing hair, looked like a different man, stripped of his former appearance. He now looked small and was ready to be incarcerated, while he had looked like a force before his beard removal.
• The company, shorn of its valuable assets due to a hostile takeover, faced an uncertain future. The employees were distraught, because they had now lost their jobs. This change brought financial hardship to them all.