hairy

adjective

ˈher-ē How to pronounce hairy (audio)
Definition of hairynext
1
as in shaggy
covered with or as if with hair a hairy spider

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fuzzy
made of or resembling hair found enough hairy clumps around the house to make another cat a hairy mass of fiberglass insulation

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3
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling landing on that airstrip is always a hairy proposition

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in disturbing
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings the snowstorm made for a hairy commute back home that evening

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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 hairy Hirta is Latin for hairy, and the plant’s stems do feel rough to the touch. — Sheryl Devore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026 For millions of years, Pacific mastodons — huge, hairy relatives of modern elephants — roamed a vast and lush range that included California, Oregon, the northern Rocky Mountains and parts of Mexico. — Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026 If 97 and 29 do share the ice, the second-line centre appears to be Nugent-Hopkins, which could become hairy in a hurry. — Janson Duench, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026 Chickweed, henbit, hairy bittercress, dead nettle and shepherd’s purse all germinate in late summer and early autumn. — Manjot Kaur Sidhu, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hairy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hairy
  1. shaggy
  2. fuzzy
  3. difficult
  4. disturbing
  5. silky
  6. rough
  7. sensitive
  8. uneasy
Adjective
  • The actor and producer has swapped the shaggy, caramel-toned lengths of recent months for a razor-sharp, jaw-grazing cut in a cool-toned shade of blonde.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Atop the mesh base, most of the overlays are also rendered in shaggy shade for a further emphasis on texture.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of shaggy
Adjective
  • From Orlando’s theme parks to homegrown holiday events like Dazzling Nights, there are many festive celebrations for enjoying holiday lights, treats and entertainment that inspires warm and fuzzy feelings.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Nov. 2026
  • She was recently spotted out and about in a chartreuse velvet Colleen Allen house coat, worn with fuzzy slippers.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of fuzzy
Adjective
  • The pilot must compensate manually using the controller, which can be difficult if the aircraft is far away or difficult to see.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The chocolatey all-suede style was first released in October 2023 and has become increasingly difficult to track down over the years, with certain sizes commanding premium prices on the secondary market.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • None are pretty; most are striking; many are beautiful; some are disturbing.
    — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Did Prince Harry and Meghan Markle relocate to the UK because of her father’s disturbing allegations?
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of disturbing
Adjective
  • My dinner began with crisp pork and apple croquettes—delivering all the hearty comfort of a Sunday roast in just a few sweet-and-savory bites—followed by silky slivers of Scottish salmon, cured in-house, of course.
    — Liam Hess, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The filling is silky and rich, deftly spiced with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, and tastes unmistakably of pumpkin.
    — Rick Martinez, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of silky
Adjective
  • As the Heat searches for positives amid its rough start to the season, the bench rotation continues to evolve.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2026
  • At the Shore, onshore winds could create rough surf, hazardous boating conditions, and some tidal flooding, although the extent of coastal impacts will depend heavily on the storm's track and how long winds remain onshore.
    — Grant Gilmore, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of rough
Adjective
  • State officials had provided a version of the rolls that withheld such sensitive personal information, citing privacy concerns.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 2 Nov. 2026
  • An Israeli military official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media or to discuss sensitive operational matters, also confirmed the withdrawal.
    — Francesca Ebel, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of sensitive
Adjective
  • Some Republicans, notably including Vice President JD Vance, have directly blamed their midterm losses on the Iran war, which continues to see intermittent fighting amid an uneasy stalemate.
    — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Set in 1970s Los Angeles, the musical explores family, artistic ambition and the uneasy passage of cultural knowledge from one generation to the next.
    — James C. Taylor, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of uneasy

Browse Nearby Words

hair-trigger
hairy
hairy-chested
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Cite this Entry

“Hairy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hairy. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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