hairsplitting

adjective

Definition of hairsplittingnext
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
  1. subtle
  2. delicate
  3. fine
  4. exact
Adjective
  • The rash can be more subtle on darker skin tones, but a bumpy or textured feel is often present.
    — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The last major change was the iPhone X, which dropped the home button almost a decade ago, and even that was a fairly subtle improvement.
    — Nilay Patel, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of subtle
Adjective
  • The duo launches alongside a tapered blending brush designed for gentle, precise application on the delicate skin under your eyes.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Apple’s advertising hasn’t always shown such a delicate touch.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of delicate
Adjective
  • More offices reported investments in luxury assets, from watches, fine jewelry, art and spirits to sports teams and music rights.
    — Molly A. Wallace, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
  • This is apparently perfectly fine with the US justice system.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of fine
Adjective
  • Undoubtedly, the biggest blow was the announcement that the kingdom is postponing its flagship investment conference, the Future Investment Initiative, until next year, although no exact date has been set.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • His work is crisp, playful, and nostalgic, replicating the exact fonts and presentations of centuries-old stylings for businesses and public parks alike.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of exact
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.

Browse Nearby Words

hairsplitters
hairsplitting
hairstyle
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Cite this Entry

“Hairsplitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hairsplitting. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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