razor's edge

noun

variants or razor edge
used in various phrases to refer to a dangerous position or a position in which two different things are carefully balanced
He's a thrill-seeker who likes living on the razor's edge.
The country's future is balanced on a razor's edge.
He walks a/the razor edge between humor and bad taste in his comedy.

Examples of razor's edge in a Sentence

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That's where Trump, Congress and the courts will walk the razor's edge of protecting free speech in an era when this most basic American right can be weaponized by bad actors both foreign and domestic and disseminated for maximum harm. Eric Larsen, IndyStar, 19 Jan. 2025 Women are going to be on the National Mall by a razor's edge. Erin Spencer Sairam, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025 Many small businesses operate on a razor's edge with very slim margins. Micah Logan, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024 The intrigue: At their last meeting in June, officials were on a razor's edge between anticipating two rate cuts this year versus one. Courtenay Brown, Axios, 29 July 2024 Walking a risky razor's edge between relatable and offensive, hilarious and horrifying, these films all have one thing in common: a willingness to go there. Debby Wolfinsohn, EW.com, 4 Feb. 2024 But tensions between the Israelis and Qataris are on a razor's edge after leaked audio of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu captured the Israeli leader disparaging Qatar in a conversation with Israeli hostage families. John Hudson, arkansasonline.com, 26 Jan. 2024 But in practice that justification rests on a razor's edge. Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 9 Nov. 2010 Yet stocks may still be walking on the razor's edge these days, due to those high rates. Heard Editors, WSJ, 6 Mar. 2023

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Cite this Entry

“Razor's edge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/razor%27s%20edge. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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