hairy

adjective

ˈher-ē 

hairier; hairiest

1

a

: covered with hair or hairlike material

b

: having a downy fuzz on the stems and leaves

2

: made of or resembling hair

3

a

: tending to cause nervous tension (as from danger)

a hairy adventure

b

: difficult to deal with or comprehend

a hairy math problem

hairiness

ˈher-ē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• shaggy
• silky

Examples of hairy in a Sentence

The taxi ride got a little hairy.

When the deadline approaches, things can get a little hairy.

Recent Examples on the Web

Can the Cubs feel confident that their relievers will deliver them through a hairy situation when the chips are down? —Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Aug. 2025

What to know about tarantula mating season and where to see the hairy spiders. —Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 5 Aug. 2025

The 1 to 2 mm-long adults are slender, with long, strap-like hairy wings. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 5 Aug. 2025

To be clear, many of us—the Negroes, the queers, the hairy feminists, et cetera, et cetera—do not react out of a feeling of personal injury, as if the blondeness-as-beauty standard has terrorized us. —Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 5 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing hairy

• hairy cell leukemia
• hairy-chested
• hairy eyeball
• hairy vetch
• hairy woodpecker

Rhymes for hairy

• aerie
• airy
• arie
• barre
• cherry
• clary
• dairy
• eyrie
• faerie
• faery
• fairy
• ferry

Kids Definition

hairy

adjective

ˈha(ə)r-ē 

ˈhe(ə)r-

hairier; hairiest

1

: bearing or covered with or as if with hair

2

: made of or resembling hair

3

a

: causing excitement (as from danger)

a hairy adventure

b

: difficult to deal with or understand

a hairy math problem

hairiness noun

Medical Definition

hairy

adjective

ˈha(ə)r-ē, ˈhe(ə)r- 

hairier; hairiest

1

: covered with hair or hairlike material

2

: made of or resembling hair

hairiness

ˈhar-ē-nəs, ˈher- 

noun