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
Many more people have close calls or are clipped by speeding scooters, and these are experiences that can make people nervous in cities, which affects tourists.
—
Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 5 July 2025
In February 2022, a JetBlue flight landing at Boston Logan International Airport saw a close call with a Learjet that took off without clearance.
—Beck Andrew Salgado, Austin American Statesman, 4 July 2025
Like Charly, Kelly V. enjoyed a season 2 comeback by making the squad after a close call in season 1.
—EW.com, 1 July 2025
Advertisement That’s not to say there haven’t been close calls.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for close call
Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 5 July 2025
In February 2022, a JetBlue flight landing at Boston Logan International Airport saw a close call with a Learjet that took off without clearance.
—Beck Andrew Salgado, Austin American Statesman, 4 July 2025
Like Charly, Kelly V. enjoyed a season 2 comeback by making the squad after a close call in season 1.
—EW.com, 1 July 2025
Advertisement That’s not to say there haven’t been close calls.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 27 June 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 25 Jul. 2025.
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