1
as in thin
being of less than usual width
a hairline crack in the mug, almost too small to notice, was enough to make the mug break when filled with hot tea
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in subtle
made or done with extreme care and accuracy
a hairline distinction between her rating of certain things as "necessary" and others as "absolutely necessary"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mathematical
meeting the highest standard of accuracy
an ultrasensitive telescope that requires hairline placement of the lenses
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in inch
a very small distance or degree
the controversial measure passed by a hairline, the margin of victory being but a single vote
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hairline
Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
At Diotima, Oribe hairstylist Joey George and Addiction Tokyo global creative director Kanako Takase tag-teamed a look that involved fresh faces, low buns and a delicate smattering of white paint along the hairline and forehead.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2025
One end of the spectrum are stress fracture, which are very small, often described as hairline fractures that result from repetitive force and pounding to the bone over time.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
There was also the recent disclosure that Tucker was diagnosed with a hairline fracture in his right hand back in June, which turned out to be his best month as a Cub.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hairline
Noun
Our testers were relieved to finally find an option that didn’t leave behind crispy hairlines and plasticky strands.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
At Diotima, Oribe hairstylist Joey George and Addiction Tokyo global creative director Kanako Takase tag-teamed a look that involved fresh faces, low buns and a delicate smattering of white paint along the hairline and forehead.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2025
One end of the spectrum are stress fracture, which are very small, often described as hairline fractures that result from repetitive force and pounding to the bone over time.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
There was also the recent disclosure that Tucker was diagnosed with a hairline fracture in his right hand back in June, which turned out to be his best month as a Cub.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hairline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hairline
Adjective
-
The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Batteries without the filter lost power quickly, while batteries with the atom-thin filter retained almost all their capacity for more than 150 charge-discharge cycles.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In a subtler interpretation of the trend, the Jazz bookshelf is handcrafted in oak that takes on a golden hue when hit with the right light.—
Rachel Gallaher,
Robb Report,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Cohen and other researchers have identified many subtle fixes that improve kids’ eating habits.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
One big advantage of this tool is that the mathematical operations describing the forces between particles can be visualized as diagrams.—
Dipangkar Dutta,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
-
But the mathematical classification of knots didn’t begin until the 1870s.—
Emma R. Hasson,
Scientific American,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
This came after higher-than-average rainfall levels to start the summer, including nearly 4 inches above normal in July, per the NWS, with record-breaking rainfall on July 28, the Free Press reported.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But those plans can be quite narrow and ineffective for addressing flood damage.—
Tamia Fowlkes,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Wide, shallow pans allow alcohol to evaporate more quickly than deep, narrow ones.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This delicate stocking reminds us of the ones from our grandparents that were hand stitched with love every year.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
2 Oct. 2025
-
As for glam and accessories, Jackson favored delicate rings, bracelet and dangle earrings in warm tones to augment her red dress.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Master 4’s sensor remains unchanged, still providing smooth and accurate tracking on virtually any surface, with a maximum DPI of 8,000.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
30 Sep. 2025
-
On a team that has allowed the league’s most sacks, McCarthy must learn from QBs like Aaron Rodgers, still the league’s fastest passer and one of its most accurate.—
Jacob Robinson,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Daniels sent a beauty up the seams to second-year receiver Luke McCaffrey, who dove for the 50-yard catch with cornerback Donte Jackson draped around his neck.—
Nicki Jhabvala,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hairline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hairline. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share