hairbreadth 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of hairbreadthnext
as in narrow
showing little difference in the standing of the competitors a hairbreadth victory, but a victory nevertheless

Synonyms & Similar Words

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hairbreadth

2 of 2

noun

ˈher-ˌbretth How to pronounce hairbreadth (audio)
variants or hairsbreadth
as in inch
a very small distance or degree just missed the bull's-eye by a hairbreadth

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of hairbreadth
Adjective
In the end, Cuellar and his corporate backers carried the day (one marked also by the Uvalde school massacre), albeit by a hairbreadth margin. — Andrew Cockburn, Harper’s Magazine , 20 July 2022 That mad quest for immortality is only one thread in an intricate narrative that encompasses witchcraft, impossible transformations, hairbreadth escapes, killer clowns and an assortment of innovative murders. — Washington Post, 28 Nov. 2021 Nancy Pelosi will have a hairbreadth four-vote majority in the House with two seats still undecided. — Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 17 Dec. 2020 The hairbreadth outcome in the race belied its sweeping consequences. — Author: Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Mar. 2018
Noun
Such was not completely unexpected, for Comet MAPS was a Kreutz sungrazer, a type of comet that comes literally within a hairbreadth of the sun. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 7 Apr. 2026 The year closed with the hairbreadth victory of a law-and-order Presidential nominee whose Southern strategy of racial politicking remade the electoral map. — Jelani Cobb, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hairbreadth
  1. narrow
  2. inch
  3. close
  4. step
Adjective
  • The decision to set that tone staggering through all 10 minutes of the extended cut might scan as raw inspiration, placing Spacemen 3 on a narrow band from La Monte Young and Terry Riley to some brilliant dro)))ne future.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Recent polls have shown Jackson holding only a narrow lead over Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms.
    — DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of narrow
Noun
  • The familiar one-box shape remains for the new E-Space Concept, though with massive 23-inch wheels at the corners, the proportions are a little more Hot Wheels or Matchbox than the 1984 version.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Some places received 2 to 5 inches of rain, while others in Southern California got essentially no rain.
    — Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of inch
Adjective
  • With six couples, having two separate houses gave us space to spread out while keeping everyone close enough to gather for dinner, drinks, and games.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026
  • These regions could warrant closer investigation, but the assessment does not establish that any is suitable for a future greenhouse.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of close
Noun
  • The first step is to establish an identity of how to give that represents your core values.
    — Melissa Stevens, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • District officials took the unprecedented step of shutting down all district computer systems to limit the damage.
    — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of step

Phrases Containing hairbreadth

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hair
hairbreadth
hairbreadth escape
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Cite this Entry

“Hairbreadth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hairbreadth. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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