fine line

noun

: a very small difference
There's a fine line between being helpful and being intrusive.
There's sometimes only a very fine line between genius and madness.

Examples of fine line in a Sentence

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Qatar, a gas-rich monarchy in the Persian Gulf, is accustomed to walking a fine line. — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026 But, even then, American socialists walked a fine line—they were considered too radical for the mainstream and a mere bourgeois affectation by committed class revolutionaries. — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026 Ultimately, American Girl still has to walk a fine line between being a profitable brand and remaining—and enduring as—a safe brand for children who are still learning to navigate the world. — Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026 Beyond the mystery at the novel’s core, Candlish examines themes of #MeToo harassment, truth versus fiction in social media trends, boomerang kids, and the fine line between gullibility and trust. — The Know, Denver Post, 4 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fine line

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Cite this Entry

“Fine line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fine%20line. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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