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
The Transportation Secretary blamed the Biden administration for close calls at airports.
—
Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 29 July 2025
These notices also go to NASA if there's a chance of a close call with the International Space Station (ISS).
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 28 July 2025
While investigators have not made public what caused the close call in Minot, McCormick said the communication with the two planes doesn’t appear to have been accurate, ultimately leading to the regional pilot’s evasive maneuver.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 22 July 2025
That collision and subsequent close calls with Army helicopters over the nation’s capital put the spotlight on the interaction between military and civilian flights.
—Jack Dura, Twin Cities, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for close call
Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 29 July 2025
These notices also go to NASA if there's a chance of a close call with the International Space Station (ISS).
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 28 July 2025
While investigators have not made public what caused the close call in Minot, McCormick said the communication with the two planes doesn’t appear to have been accurate, ultimately leading to the regional pilot’s evasive maneuver.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 22 July 2025
That collision and subsequent close calls with Army helicopters over the nation’s capital put the spotlight on the interaction between military and civilian flights.
—Jack Dura, Twin Cities, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for close call
Recent Examples of Synonyms for close call
close shave
Noun
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Close call.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close%20call. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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