The best replacement for shear is sheer.

The best alternatives to shear are rated as following:
★★★★★  sheer
★★★  tensile
★★★  friction
★★★  tension
★  tensile strength
★  double shear
★  strain
★  normal stress
  nibbler
  simple shear
  shears
  shear
  genie bra
  bending
  pure shear
  single shear
  moment
  tree saw
  tension bolts
  double time

Your alternative for shear is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about shear, one probably shouldn't forget about bending.

Other search terms related to shear and their ratings are:
★★★★★ bending
You have in mind a companion for shear and it is not yet here? Propose!



Google Trends

Scale is based on the average worldwide traffic of shear in all years. Click on graph for more.
shear
sheer
tensile