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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Recent Examples of close call
While the event miraculously claimed no lives, the close calls were harrowing.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
However, during qualifying on Thursday, there was a terrifyingly close call in which a driver who had to hop out of a car that was on fire was nearly hit by another driver.
—Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Despite her long career in planetary science, the mission’s cold-thruster close call marked one of the most enlightening moments Elkins-Tanton has ever experienced in her work.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 9 May 2026
Stacy, a crossing guard in East Lansdowne who asked that her last name not be used, said the job often puts her in close calls with traffic.
—Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for close call
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
However, during qualifying on Thursday, there was a terrifyingly close call in which a driver who had to hop out of a car that was on fire was nearly hit by another driver.
—Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Despite her long career in planetary science, the mission’s cold-thruster close call marked one of the most enlightening moments Elkins-Tanton has ever experienced in her work.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 9 May 2026
Stacy, a crossing guard in East Lansdowne who asked that her last name not be used, said the job often puts her in close calls with traffic.
—Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for close call
Recent Examples of Synonyms for close call
close shave
Noun
-
Villa rely on its revenue to push their limits, so going another year on the outside will mean player sales, budget cuts and very, very close shaves with financial sanctions.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Speaking of a close shave, Cincinnati couldn't decide a winner between No 5.—
Rasputin Todd,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Close call.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close%20call. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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