Sheer and Total

Sheer

Sheer adjective - Having no exceptions or restrictions.
Usage example: survivors of the earthquake told of experiencing sheer terror

Total is a synonym for sheer in utter topic. In some cases you can use "Total" instead the word "Sheer" as an adjective or a noun, when it comes to topics like full, big, absolute.

Nearby Words: sheered, sheering

Total

Total adjective - Having no exceptions or restrictions.
Usage example: had total power over the people of that country

Sheer is a synonym for total in complete topic. You can use "Sheer" instead the word "Total" as an adjective or a noun, if it concerns topics such as full, big, absolute.

Nearby Words: totaled, tot, totality, totaling, totalled

Both words in one sentence

  • Nickelback is the ultimate snark bait band, mostly due to their sheer mediocrity and total lack of innovation.
    Source: Snark Bait
  • Creator / Hiroshi Fujioka Not to be confused with Haruhi Fujioka.Japanese actor, voice actor, practicing martial artist, singer and full-fledged national cultural icon, known for bringing sheer levels of total badassness to any role he plays.
  • However, as an enemy without a plan can never be out-planned, he will always fail to steal the initiative against Orks due to the sheer impossibility of second-guessing total anarchy.
    Source: Confusion Fu
Cite this Source
Total and Sheer. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 20, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/sheer/total
Sheer & Total. N.p., 2016. Web. 20 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/sheer/total>.
Total or Sheer. 2016. Accessed July 20, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/sheer/total.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "sheer" and "total" have occurred on timeline