as in narrow escapes
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 calls
Those close calls spurred hard conversations after the ’05 disappointment.
—
Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Similar communication challenges led to some close calls between military aircraft and commercial flights in the Caribbean.
—Brian Dakss, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
But a championship has remained elusive, even with Boone encountering close calls in 2003 — the only postseason trip of his playing career — and 2024.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
The National Transportation Safety Board said the FAA and the Army did not share safety data with each other about the alarming number of close calls around Reagan National Airport and failed to address the risks.
—Darlene Superville, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Hurley and his staff had been drilling the team on its areas of weakness as the close calls kept coming.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 2026
While there have been no avalanche deaths recorded in Colorado so far this season, there have been serious accidents and several close calls.
—The Vail Daily, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026
There have also been numerous close calls over the years, including in recent memory.
—Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Recall the close calls in the playoffs, a pair of three-point victories against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the 49ers in the divisional round and NFC title game?
—Mirjam Swanson The Orange County Register, Arkansas Online, 22 Jan. 2026
Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Similar communication challenges led to some close calls between military aircraft and commercial flights in the Caribbean.
—Brian Dakss, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
But a championship has remained elusive, even with Boone encountering close calls in 2003 — the only postseason trip of his playing career — and 2024.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
The National Transportation Safety Board said the FAA and the Army did not share safety data with each other about the alarming number of close calls around Reagan National Airport and failed to address the risks.
—Darlene Superville, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Hurley and his staff had been drilling the team on its areas of weakness as the close calls kept coming.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 2026
While there have been no avalanche deaths recorded in Colorado so far this season, there have been serious accidents and several close calls.
—The Vail Daily, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026
There have also been numerous close calls over the years, including in recent memory.
—Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Recall the close calls in the playoffs, a pair of three-point victories against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the 49ers in the divisional round and NFC title game?
—Mirjam Swanson The Orange County Register, Arkansas Online, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for close calls
close shaves
Noun
-
The Torreys are accustomed to, pun intended, close shaves.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Close calls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close%20calls. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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