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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Some raspberry varieties have longer or more persistent styles, which is why certain batches of berries seem especially hairy. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 June 2026 The threat that these hairy tanks (some can weigh over 1,500 pounds) pose to drivers is so great that Volvo, a brand synonymous with safety, built their own life-sized rubber replica. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 18 June 2026 The more popular Australian and New Zealand tree ferns, with their hairy trunks, get tired looking after a while, even while the giant chain fern expands radially into a huge clump with leaves up to 5 feet tall or taller. — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 27 May 2026 People had expectations of Mike Myers, because of SNL and Wayne’s World — not everybody was going along with this idea of the bad teeth, hairy body and taking the piss out of Bond. — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 13 June 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
  • Two years later, Swift pushed the bounds of her beauty yet again, pairing a white, deep V-cut gown with a shaggy bob.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 2 July 2026
  • In most respects the man was unremarkable, just another shaggy head of hair in a sea of skater-boy business casual.
    — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
Definition of shaggy
Adjective
  • The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health recommends soaking leafy produce and fuzzy fruits like peaches in a 10% white vinegar and 90% water mixture.
    — Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • Deers tend to avoid flowers and plants with strong odors or foliage with a fuzzy, rough, or odd texture.
    — Steve Bender, Southern Living, 7 July 2026
Definition of fuzzy
Adjective
  • Sarah Buck, Chicago Driving has become harder The rapid increase in bike lanes has made driving much more difficult and tedious, with numerous delays due to many streets being reduced to one lane in busy areas.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Republican strategists have welcomed those nominations as an opening for attack in a difficult election year.
    — Susan Page, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • And so the disturbing part of the dissent in the mail ballot case was that this was about a very narrow issue, whether ballots that are postmarked by Election Day can be counted if they're received in some period after.
    — Tonya Mosley, NPR, 8 July 2026
  • The film is a modern take on creature horror movies told from the perspective of a young boy who slowly begins to discover his beloved parents are hiding a disturbing secret about his mother’s true nature.
    — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 7 July 2026
Definition of disturbing
Adjective
  • The eggs also act as a natural stabilizer, so this type of ice cream doesn't require other ingredients to achieve a silky texture.
    — Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 3 July 2026
  • The duo of butternut squash and carrots unite in this silky smooth, bright orange soup that's perfect for spring.
    — Lizzy Briskin, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2026
Definition of silky
Adjective
  • Mariana is not pleased to hear this, and he's got some rough-looking dudes with him.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Dual suspension helps smooth rough trails, hydraulic disc brakes provide dependable stopping power in changing conditions, and four-inch fat tires improve traction across gravel, dirt, sand, and pavement.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 July 2026
Definition of rough
Adjective
  • The autonomous coding tool can send sensitive information to a remote server without a user’s consent, the statement said in Chinese, according to a CNBC translation.
    — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 8 July 2026
  • The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the possible crash.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Definition of sensitive
Adjective
  • The company and the government have since seemed to settle into an uneasy truce.
    — Tristan Bove, Fortune, 1 July 2026
  • But some retirees remain uneasy about security concerns, healthcare quality, and property ownership structures.
    — Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 1 July 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 10 Jul. 2026.

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