fleeced

A fleeced cloud drifts across the blue sky.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having a soft, fluffy, or wool-like texture: "fleeced" describes something that resembles fleece — the woolly coat of a sheep — in being light, airy, and soft, often used for clouds, snow, or hair.
   • Cheated or swindled: "fleeced" can also be used as a past participle verb meaning that someone has been deceived or tricked out of money or possessions.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The sky was filled with fleeced clouds, soft and white. (Clouds that are light and fluffy like wool.)
  • Her hair was fleeced into a soft, bouncy style. (Her hair was styled to be fluffy and voluminous.)

• Verb (past participle):

  • He was fleeced by a con artist who took all his savings. (He was cheated out of his money.)
  • The tourists felt they had been fleeced at the market. (They believed they were overcharged or tricked.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be fleeced" (figurative): to be stripped of value, like wool is removed from a sheep.

  • Investors were fleeced in the pyramid scheme. (They lost their money through fraud.)

• "fleeced fabric": a type of textile with a soft, raised surface.

  • The jacket is made of fleeced polyester, keeping the wearer warm. (A fabric with a brushed, fluffy finish.)

Variants and Related Words

• Fleece (noun): the woolly coat of a sheep; also, a soft fabric.

  • The farmer sheared the fleece from the sheep. (The woolly coat.)

• Fleece (verb): to swindle or cheat someone out of money.

  • The scammer tried to fleece the elderly woman. (To deceive for financial gain.)

• Fleecy (adjective): resembling or covered with fleece.

  • The fleecy blanket was warm and comfortable. (Soft and woolly.)

Synonyms

• Fluffy: light and airy in texture.
• Woolly: covered with or resembling wool.
• Swindled: cheated or defrauded.

Phrasal Verbs

• Fleece off (rare): to remove fleece or wool.
  • The farmer fleeced off the sheep's coat in spring. (Sheared the wool.)

Related Idioms

• "To fleece someone": to cheat or take money dishonestly.

  • The taxi driver tried to fleece the tourist by charging triple the fare. (To overcharge unfairly.)

• "As light as fleeced snow": extremely light and soft.

  • The pillow was as light as fleeced snow. (Very soft and airy.)