close call

as in narrow escape
a barely successful escape from something undesirable the doctor said I'd had a close call, and was lucky to be alive

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of close call The incident is the latest close call at Washington’s Reagan National Airport since the beginning of the year. Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025 With multiple overtime games, upsets and close calls, Week 2 provided a lot of reasons to shake up this week’s edition of The Athletic 136, just not at the top. Chris Vannini, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025 Then again, close calls against FCS teams – and Northern Colorado isn’t a particularly good FCS team – tend to look even worse in hindsight. Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025 The one-run loss was the Dodgers’ 13th in their past 19 close calls. Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 7 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for close call
Recent Examples of Synonyms for close call
close shave
Noun
  • Our favorites helped our razors glide smoothly across the skin for an ultra-close shave, while aloe vera and almond oil soothed, hydrated, and enhanced the skin’s appearance — mitigating irritation.
    Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Meant to be used anywhere and everywhere, this delivers a smooth and close shave by reducing friction with allantoin and infusing skin with shea butter, glycerin and squalane for softness and moisture.
    Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Close call.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close%20call. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

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