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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One search can yield a long list of options, each with its own rules, conditions, and subtle differences that are easy to miss at first glance.—
Matthew Kayser,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026 -
However, a slight blurring of stars at the edge of the frame seems to betray the subtle motion of the spacecraft — or camera — over the course of the 10-second exposure.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Plus, their delicate hardware delivers an extra element of style.—
Cheryl Wagemann,
InStyle,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Ideal for delicate loose-leaf brewing (such as gyokuro), each teapot has a small 100-to-200-milliliter capacity that prevents over-steeping and allows for rich infusions, each brew better than the last.—
Abbey Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Trotsky’s arguments about revolution in one nation versus a revolution of the international proletariat, like the fine argumentative tracery of Paul’s Jewish Christians versus Greek ones, seemed vital to the movement at the time but weirdly trivial and abstract to those outside it.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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Members of the first group will be fine even as college closures accelerate.—
Jeffrey Selingo,
The Atlantic,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Matching five numbers without the Powerball number is enough to result in a seven-figure prize, with the exact payout dependent on ticket add-ons.—
Senior Television,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
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And of course, that is the exact area where injuries have hit at the worst possible time.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Hairsplitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hairsplitting. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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