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
Fatal accidents, crash landings and close calls are part of North Perry’s history, with 41 major incidents in the past five years.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2025
In what seems today like a real close call, its owners had banded together to take it co-op because the building’s new owner was planning demolition and redevelopment.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 11 Aug. 2025
Will a dozen close calls end in spectacular triumph?
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2025
In a video shared on social media, the hockey team shared the close call between a wild grizzly bear and the team’s mascot, Buoy the sea troll, while the team was out fly fishing in Alaska’s Katmai National Park, according to UPI.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for close call
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2025
In what seems today like a real close call, its owners had banded together to take it co-op because the building’s new owner was planning demolition and redevelopment.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 11 Aug. 2025
Will a dozen close calls end in spectacular triumph?
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2025
In a video shared on social media, the hockey team shared the close call between a wild grizzly bear and the team’s mascot, Buoy the sea troll, while the team was out fly fishing in Alaska’s Katmai National Park, according to UPI.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 5 Aug. 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 9 Sep. 2025.
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