as in subtle
made or done with extreme care and accuracy
usage experts have attempted to make some hairsplitting distinctions between the two words, but most writers blithely ignore them
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hairsplitting
Adjective
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The subtle side snap buttons leading down to the slit provide detail without being distracting, and the pointelle knit offers enough stretch and texture to hug your curves in all the right places.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Sep. 2025 -
Chisholm took a subtle shot at the Marlins, noting what was holding him back.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But their insect-like movements hint at a future where fleets of miniature robots could glide across water, performing tasks once too dangerous or delicate for humans.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Sep. 2025
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Silver’s delivery is, possibly, more delicate than mine will be.—
Sophie Ansari,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Whatever comes down the line, The Who certainly made Sunday’s show count, delivering a 22-song set filled mostly with fan favorites and showcasing many of the reasons why the group was once widely considered to be the finest in all of rock.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
22 Sep. 2025
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Antonelli came home in fourth, with Lawson a fine fifth place and Tsunoda in sixth.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The exact child God always meant for Max & I to have.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
22 Sep. 2025
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The document does not state the exact time the Secret Service officer noticed the suspect.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
22 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Hairsplitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hairsplitting. Accessed 27 Sep. 2025.
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