sheep
noun
ˈshēp 
plural sheep
often attributive
1
: any of various hollow-horned typically gregarious ruminant mammals (genus Ovis) related to the goats but stockier and lacking a beard in the male
specifically : one (O. aries) long domesticated especially for its flesh and wool
2
a
: a timid defenseless creature
b
: a timid docile person
especially : one easily influenced or led
3
: leather prepared from the skins of sheep : sheepskin
Synonyms
- angel
- dove
- innocent
- lamb
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
he came to see that the members of the cult were sheep who naively went along with whatever their leader dictated
Recent Examples on the Web Goats, sheep and other animals were sometimes used to feed babies directly to avoid potentially lethal contamination of milk in unsanitized bottles. 
Katherine Harmon Courage, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2022 The children’s books featured cartoons of sheep and wolves. Theodora Yu, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2022 Rural residents beyond the village have cut back on sheep and cow herds, partly to offset the cost of hauling water and partly because there’s little grass for the livestock to eat. AZCentral.com, 6 Sep. 2022 Then there’s the shoot for a 10cc cover that involved finding a sheep and a psychiatrist’s couch and putting one atop the other … in the shallows of a lake. Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Sep. 2022 Nomadic herdsmen colonized arid plains which were useless to farmers but offered sufficient grazing to support flocks of goats and sheep and droves of cattle. Adam Kuper, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022 This year, sheep and cattle farmer Paige Marsh will be the fourth for the series as a whole, and the first female farmer since Channel 7 rebooted the franchise in 2019. Alicia Vrajlal, refinery29.com, 31 Aug. 2022 Begay and his 11 siblings relished tending to sheep and cattle that roamed bucolic pastures. Eli Cahan, USA TODAY, 26 Aug. 2022 Their next project: a forest of 134 fruit and nut trees, which could eventually be maintained by sheep and chickens, with a turkey or goose to protect them. Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2022 See More
Katherine Harmon Courage, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2022 The children’s books featured cartoons of sheep and wolves. Theodora Yu, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2022 Rural residents beyond the village have cut back on sheep and cow herds, partly to offset the cost of hauling water and partly because there’s little grass for the livestock to eat. AZCentral.com, 6 Sep. 2022 Then there’s the shoot for a 10cc cover that involved finding a sheep and a psychiatrist’s couch and putting one atop the other … in the shallows of a lake. Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Sep. 2022 Nomadic herdsmen colonized arid plains which were useless to farmers but offered sufficient grazing to support flocks of goats and sheep and droves of cattle. Adam Kuper, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022 This year, sheep and cattle farmer Paige Marsh will be the fourth for the series as a whole, and the first female farmer since Channel 7 rebooted the franchise in 2019. Alicia Vrajlal, refinery29.com, 31 Aug. 2022 Begay and his 11 siblings relished tending to sheep and cattle that roamed bucolic pastures. Eli Cahan, USA TODAY, 26 Aug. 2022 Their next project: a forest of 134 fruit and nut trees, which could eventually be maintained by sheep and chickens, with a turkey or goose to protect them. Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English scēap; akin to Old High German scāf sheep
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing sheep
Kids Definition
sheep
noun
ˈshēp
plural sheep
1
: an animal related to the goat that is often raised for meat or for its wool and skin
2
: a weak helpless person who is easily led
sheep
noun
as in innocent
an innocent or gentle person he came to see that the members of the cult were sheep who naively went along with whatever their leader dictated Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- innocent
- lamb
- angel
- colt
- dove
- saint
- virgin
- sucker
- cub
- fledgling
- babe
- greenhorn
- pigeon
- cherub
- naif
- tenderfoot
- newbie
- naïf
- ingenue
- ingénue
- softie
- softy
- weakling
- dupe
- wimp
- sap
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- wolf
- tough
- beast
- bully
- clown
- creep
- heel
- snake
- louse
- cur
- rowdy
- jerk
- skunk
- roughneck
- shark
- boor
- slob
- cretin
- lout
- churl
- cad
- joker
- devil
- rascal
- stinker
- rogue
- villain
- scoundrel
- knave
- miscreant
- scamp
- reprobate
- scalawag
- varlet
- rapscallion
- scallywag
- no-good