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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hairsplitting
Adjective
-
Custom metallic-textile curtains are used to help filter light and protect sensitive works, while allowing subtle changes throughout the day and seasons to shape the viewing experience.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026 -
While Drescher used the Pink Passion shade, there are five other colors to pick from, including a timeless bright red and subtle neutral hue.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Moving this delicate variant to Broadway posed a risk.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
16 Apr. 2026
-
While the Chinese government has played a delicate diplomatic hand over the conflict between its biggest global rival and its closest friend in the Middle East, its people have displayed a wave of curiosity and admiration toward Iran.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Schuch paused in front of a Tetra Pak carton of Côtes du Rhône, noting that while such packaging had gone over fine in Nordic countries, French consumers had rejected it vehemently.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
With the husbands off for a golf outing, Julia and Jane (well attended to by Chimo’s martini-mixing maid Saunders) get decked out in their evening finest and wait impatiently at Julia’s luxe apartment (Jane lives upstairs) for the mystery man Maurice to arrive.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Unless an author volunteers the exact amount, only the people involved in the deal will know how much that was.—
Josh Rivera,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The exact numerical values chosen for each situation are subjective.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
19 Apr. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Hairsplitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hairsplitting. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
