hairy

adjective

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\ ˈher-ē

hairier; hairiest

Definition of hairy

1a : covered with hair or hairlike material

b : having a downy fuzz on the stems and leaves

2 : made of or resembling hair

3a : 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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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 Unlike bees, whose hairy bodies are easily coated in the yellow dust, butterflies have long, delicate legs that seldom brush up against a flower’s pollen-producing anthers. — Erik Stokstad, Science | AAAS, "Butterflies provide ‘extraordinary’ help pollinating cotton fields," 12 Apr. 2021 The plants have hairy compound leaves and bloom in the spring into early summer. — Janet Carson, Arkansas Online, "Mysteries solved for the last week of March.," 5 Apr. 2021 Cut cleaned artichokes in halves or quarters, remove the hairy choke, and sprinkle with salt and pepper, rubbing in the seasoning. — Tribune News Service, cleveland, "A guide to get easily to the heart of an artichoke," 22 Mar. 2021 First, give these hairy beasts lots of space, as much as half the length of a football field — this is good advice to follow around all large wild animals. — Kolbie Peterson, The Salt Lake Tribune, "Here are two prime Utah spots for watching mountain goats this spring," 11 Mar. 2021 Other than the thorny tips of the petals, the only other part of the artichoke that should be completely discarded is the hairy choke, which sits atop that meaty heart deep in its center. — Washington Post, "How to prep, cook and enjoy stuffed artichokes," 11 Mar. 2021 While moon boots and hairy boots have certainly existed, these XXL clodhoppers feel like a new chapter. — Liana Satenstein, Vogue, "Why I’m Obsessed With the Return of Big Furry Boots," 10 Mar. 2021 Legend joins the fun holding a googly-eyed Roomba friend and flashing a hairy chest pelt. — Sara Netzley, EW.com, "John Legend jokes he hasn't waxed his chest all year in quarantine parody song with Jimmy Fallon," 2 Mar. 2021 Researchers said the components of the eyes were normal other than the layer of hairy, thick skin. — Alan Clemons, Outdoor Life, "The Buck With The Hairy Eyeballs," 19 Feb. 2021

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.