wind shear

noun

: a radical shift in wind speed and direction that occurs over a very short distance

Examples of wind shear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Strong winds throughout the atmosphere will create significant wind shear, while the return of warmer, more humid air provides the instability needed for thunderstorms. — Bill Kelly, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 Hurricane Isaias developed after that wind shear briefly died down off the Gulf Coast. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2026 However, a wall of wind shear is expected to slightly destabilize the storm just before landfall — slowing its wind speeds to 100 mph and broadening the system, spreading the high winds and heavy rains even further from the core of the storm. — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026 In early October, vertical wind shear in the western Gulf weakened and a small region of enhanced moisture moved over the western Gulf. — Christopher Davis, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wind shear

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wind shear was in 1895

Rhymes for wind shear

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Browse Nearby Words

wind-shaken
wind shear
wind sheet
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Cite this Entry

“Wind shear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wind%20shear. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

wind shear

noun
: a radical shift in wind speed and direction that occurs over a very short distance

More from Merriam-Webster on wind shear

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wind shear

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