hairy

\ ˈher-ē

How to pronounce hairy (audio)

\

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

Other Words from hairy Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about hairy

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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 Very big, hairy and tall, averaging 6 to 8 feet tall. — Cambridge Daily Jeffersonian, Cincinnati.com, "Bigfoot-like creature spotted at Salt Fork State Park in Ohio, men claim," 10 Feb. 2020 But when that firm’s minimum check size is $100 million, things get hairy. — Polina Marinova, Fortune, "Brandless is the first SoftBank-backed startup to close its doors for good," 11 Feb. 2020 Not from varroa mites, pesticides, colony collapse disorder, or any of the many other perils now facing honeybee populations across the world, but from hornets—each one a red-eyed giant next to the hairy little bees. — National Geographic, "Photos from inside a tree reveal intimate lives of wild honeybees," 8 Feb. 2020 And tarantulas set their hairy legs in motion, crossing patches of desert and roads in the name of love — or, more accurately, spider Tindering. — Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, "From monarch butterflies to gray whales, animals are on the move. Here’s how travelers can tag along on their migratory journeys," 24 Oct. 2019 Bees’ fuzzy yellow bodies and hairy legs are custom-built for picking up pollen. — Rachel Fritts, Ars Technica, "A new pesticide is all the buzz," 18 Oct. 2019 With two outs in the ninth, things got a little hairy again - Murphy singled to center and a yes, wild pitch, moved pinch runner Dee Gordon to second. — Susan Slusser, SFChronicle.com, "A’s shut out Seattle to gain home-field advantage," 28 Sep. 2019 And that cartridge doesn’t have to be a big hairy magnum. — Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, "Best Calibers For Africa Plains Game," 13 Jan. 2020 In between, James gets his hairy Australian arms right around Larkin. — James Parker, The Atlantic, "A Book That Honors a Complicated Figure," 26 Dec. 2019

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.

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Dictionary Entries near hairy

hairy armadillo

Statistics for hairy

Last Updated

23 Mar 2020

Cite this Entry

“Hairy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hairy. Accessed 30 Mar. 2020.

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More Definitions for hairy

hairy

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of hairy

: covered with a lot of hair

informal : causing fear or tension : dangerous or stressful

See the full definition for hairy in the English Language Learners Dictionary

hairy

\ ˈher-ē

\

hairier; hairiest

Kids Definition of hairy

: covered with hair

hairy

\ ˈha(ə)r-ē, ˈhe(ə)r-

\

hairier; hairiest

Medical Definition of hairy

1 : covered with hair or hairlike material

2 : made of or resembling hair

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