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

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
As to the famous fine line between stupid and clever, the stupidity and the cleverness are all but inextricable, and to the point. Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026 Treading a fine line in Venezuela’s power struggle The amnesty push comes against the backdrop of Venezuela’s fragile post-Maduro landscape, with the acting government under Rodríguez navigating US pressure, economic challenges and calls for stability. Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026 The tragedy has many Californians pausing to reflect on the fine line between the thrill of backcountry skiing and the perils of extreme winter storms. James Ward, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026 Instead of a bright or creamy white nail, though, Okawara outlined the tip with a fine line and rhinestone design on the pointer finger and a series of teeny-tiny golden dots on the middle finger. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 17 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fine line

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fine line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fine%20line. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster