hairy

play

adjective \ ˈher-ē \

Definition of hairy

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

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hairiness

play \ˈher-ē-nəs\ noun

See hairy defined for English-language learners

See hairy defined for kids

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 of hairy from the Web

On his Facebook page Dafferner wrote that the hairy intruder had a 5-inch leg span.

— debbi baker, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Huge tarantula pays unwelcome visit to Scripps Ranch family," 3 Aug. 2017
Liberals in the United States have always had good things to say about socialism, which is communism’s prettier younger sister who doesn’t wear a babushka or have a hairy mole on her cheek.

— christine flowers, Philly.com, "When did Russia become a friend of America?," 13 July 2017
After the crisis, however, things got really hairy.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Kushner Sought $500 Million Bailout From Top Qatari Investor: Report," 10 July 2017
In that case, the slick, hairy waviness explains the name’s origin—not a resemblance to the contour of a sheep’s back.

— marnie mcinnes, The Atlantic, "Why Geologists Think Glacial Mountains Look Like Sheep," 7 July 2017
In 2010, Gawker reported that J. Crew was also selling a pair of tights designed to both appear and feel like hairy gams.

— sophie hirsh, Teen Vogue, "Hairy Leggings Are Here to Create the Illusion of Unshaven Legs," 30 June 2017
Delmundo was born was large, hairy moles covering her body and believes Miss Universe would be a good platform to promote her uniqueness.

— tess koman, Cosmopolitan, "Bullied Woman With Moles From Head-to-Toe Applies to Be a Miss Universe Contestant," 29 June 2017
But the hairy moment came as selection was winding down and Gallagher asked whether anyone had questions.

— domingo ramirez jr., star-telegram.com, "Hair ye! Hair ye! Judge proves his point," 27 June 2017
Another boy was reportedly told to change because his legs were too hairy, according to Devonlive.com.

— lindsey bever, Washington Post, "Those skirt-wearing British schoolboys just won the right to wear shorts," 23 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hairy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of hairy

14th century

hairy Synonyms

Synonyms

bristly, brushy, cottony, fleecy, furred, furry, hirsute, rough, shaggy, silky, unshorn, woolly (also wooly)

Antonyms

bald, furless, glabrous, hairless, shorn, smooth

Related Words

bearded, bewhiskered, mustachioed (also moustachioed), whiskered; stubbled, stubbly; downy, fluffy, fuzzy, linty, nappy

Near Antonyms

beardless, shaved, shaven

HAIRY Defined for English Language Learners

hairy

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adjective

Definition of hairy for English Language Learners

: covered with a lot of hair
: causing fear or tension : dangerous or stressful

HAIRY Defined for Kids

hairy

play

adjective \ ˈher-ē \

Definition of hairy for Students

hairier; hairiest

:covered with hair

—

hairiness

noun

Medical Dictionary

hairy

play

adjective \ ˈha(ə)r-ē, ˈhe(ə)r- \

medical Definition of hairy

hairier; hairiest

1 :covered with hair or hairlike material

2 :made of or resembling hair

—

hairiness

play \ˈhar-ē-nəs, ˈher-\ noun

Learn More about hairy

See words that rhyme with hairy Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hairy Spanish Central: Translation of hairy Nglish: Translation of hairy for Spanish speakers

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hairiness

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Examples of hairy in a Sentence

Recent Examples of hairy from the Web

First Known Use of hairy

hairy Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

HAIRY Defined for English Language Learners

hairy

Definition of hairy for English Language Learners

HAIRY Defined for Kids

hairy

Definition of hairy for Students

hairiness

Medical Dictionary

hairy

medical Definition of hairy

hairiness

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