as in narrow
showing little difference in the standing of the competitors
a hairbreadth victory, but a victory nevertheless
Synonyms & Similar Words
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variants
or hairsbreadth
as in inch
a very small distance or degree
just missed the bull's-eye by a hairbreadth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hairbreadth
Andrew Cockburn, Harper’s Magazine , 20 July 2022
That mad quest for immortality is only one thread in an intricate narrative that encompasses witchcraft, impossible transformations, hairbreadth escapes, killer clowns and an assortment of innovative murders.
—Washington Post, 28 Nov. 2021
Nancy Pelosi will have a hairbreadth four-vote majority in the House with two seats still undecided.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 17 Dec. 2020
The hairbreadth outcome in the race belied its sweeping consequences.
—Author: Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Mar. 2018
Kirk Semple and Marina Franco, New York Times, 4 June 2017
The year closed with the hairbreadth victory of a law-and-order Presidential nominee whose Southern strategy of racial politicking remade the electoral map.
—Jelani Cobb, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2017
Adjective
In the end, Cuellar and his corporate backers carried the day (one marked also by the Uvalde school massacre), albeit by a hairbreadth margin.
—Andrew Cockburn, Harper’s Magazine , 20 July 2022
That mad quest for immortality is only one thread in an intricate narrative that encompasses witchcraft, impossible transformations, hairbreadth escapes, killer clowns and an assortment of innovative murders.
—Washington Post, 28 Nov. 2021
Nancy Pelosi will have a hairbreadth four-vote majority in the House with two seats still undecided.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 17 Dec. 2020
The hairbreadth outcome in the race belied its sweeping consequences.
—Author: Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Mar. 2018
Noun
Should the electoral officials’ math hold up, the hairbreadth victory is likely to provide only limited comfort to Mr. del Mazo’s party.
—Kirk Semple and Marina Franco, New York Times, 4 June 2017
The year closed with the hairbreadth victory of a law-and-order Presidential nominee whose Southern strategy of racial politicking remade the electoral map.
—Jelani Cobb, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hairbreadth
Adjective
-
During the trial, Amélie testified that Depardieu grabbed her hips in a narrow corridor and started touching her, pointing to her buttocks, hip, and pubic area.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
13 May 2025
-
Sherrill has held a consistent yet narrow lead in recent surveys.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 May 2025
Noun
-
Small measurements, big impacts While land sinking less than an inch per year might not seem like much on paper, small shifts in land can have big effects.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
8 May 2025
-
Cool-season grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass and fescues, are generally maintained at 3 to 4 inches tall.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
Simple solution: The Derby and Preakness are too close at 14 days apart.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
11 May 2025
-
This time, the Knicks couldn’t get any closer, as the Celtics won 115-93 to cut their series deficit to two games to one.—
Tim Casey,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
Noun
-
The Giants’ quiet night on offense wasted an excellent start from their ace.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
10 May 2025
-
Alcántara is still the ace of the Miami staff and is looking to turn his season around, and putting a playoff-caliber team like Atlanta around him would certainly do the trick for the 29-year-old.—
Hunter Mulholland,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
Minneapolis agreed to substantial changes to its police department, including steps to rein in the use of force, bolster training and address discriminatory practices.—
Ernesto Londoño,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
-
The official opening on the weekend completed the first step, but a lot remains to be done.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
18 May 2025
Noun
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That means everything from proper care hair to talking through how people may treat you differently based on the color of your skin.—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
9 May 2025
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The research, collected in 2021, focused on Black and Latina women after previous studies showed they are more often exposed to formaldehyde in nail and hair products than white women.—
Ronnie Cohen,
NPR,
8 May 2025
Noun
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On Wednesday evening, a jury found Samson Allen guilty on charges of resisting arrest and obstructing justice during a police encounter last June that culminated in the arresting officer pressing his knee to the young Meridian man’s neck.—
Rose Evans,
Idaho Statesman,
8 May 2025
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For a sheer moment, turn to the brand-new Ultra Fine Mesh Brief Bodysuit, whose scoop neck and wrap tie will elevate your beach vacation’s OOTD pictures.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hairbreadth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hairbreadth. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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