as in narrow escape
a barely successful escape from something undesirable
the passengers in the jeep had a close shave when a mine exploded just a few yards away
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Recent Examples of close shave
Last week, for example, a satellite recently deployed by a Chinese rocket gave a Starlink spacecraft a close shave, apparently without providing the proper warning ahead of time.
—
Mike Wall, Space.com, 18 Dec. 2025
The Torreys are accustomed to, pun intended, close shaves.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Nov. 2025
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
Washington’s depth saved it from a close shave Sunday.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 8 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
The floating, vibrating head gave me a really close shave, especially with my shaving cream.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 16 May 2025
Their characters have had plenty of close shaves, although most didn't involve razors.
—Chris Cosgrove, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Cartridge razors feature disposable cartridges, where two to six blades are tightly spaced for a quick, close shave.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 27 Mar. 2025
Mike Wall, Space.com, 18 Dec. 2025
The Torreys are accustomed to, pun intended, close shaves.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Nov. 2025
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
Washington’s depth saved it from a close shave Sunday.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 8 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
The floating, vibrating head gave me a really close shave, especially with my shaving cream.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 16 May 2025
Their characters have had plenty of close shaves, although most didn't involve razors.
—Chris Cosgrove, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Cartridge razors feature disposable cartridges, where two to six blades are tightly spaced for a quick, close shave.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 27 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for close shave
close call
Noun
-
While there have been close calls in the past—in 2003, then-NBA commissioner David Stern threatened to cancel the W’s season during a labor dispute—the W hasn’t lost games to a work stoppage in its 30-year history.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
She nearly got booted during the first roundtable vote, a close call that seemed to leave her shaken.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Close shave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close%20shave. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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