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
There is a fine line between elevating the league and overshadowing it.
—
Asli Pelit, New York Times, 10 May 2026
There is a fine line between not taking anyone’s crap and figuring out what is truly offensive.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
Beatrice, meanwhile, is trying to walk the fine line of not cutting her father off and yet remaining close with the Royal Family.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 7 May 2026
Administration officials have been trying to walk a fine line between maintaining the ceasefire and reopening the strait, where 20% of the world’s oil normally flows.
—Ben Finley, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fine line
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.
Asli Pelit, New York Times, 10 May 2026
There is a fine line between not taking anyone’s crap and figuring out what is truly offensive.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
Beatrice, meanwhile, is trying to walk the fine line of not cutting her father off and yet remaining close with the Royal Family.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 7 May 2026
Administration officials have been trying to walk a fine line between maintaining the ceasefire and reopening the strait, where 20% of the world’s oil normally flows.
—Ben Finley, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fine line
Cite this Entry
“Fine line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fine%20line. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
