HAIRSPLITTING Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

hairsplitting

adjective

Definition of hairsplitting

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

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for hairsplitting

Adjective

One subtle change, however, was his emphasis on spending Year 1 and building a foundation with the Tigers.

— Seth Emerson, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Researchers have since modified other proteins to interact with Cas9 but catalyze more subtle changes to DNA, such as lopping off a single base or making chemical modifications that alter how it base-pairs.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 24 July 2026

Definition of subtle

Adjective

TouchLab unveiled electronic skin, giving robots a crucial sense of touch for delicate handling and safe interaction.

— Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 24 July 2026
Navigating our world requires simultaneously processing 4K video, spatial lidar, audio, and delicate tactile or proprioceptive feedback.

— Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 July 2026

Definition of delicate

Adjective

The broken embed for the reel is still in the story and the exact quote from the reel remains in the story along with the link to the original post that has since been deleted.

— Byron Hurd, The Drive, 23 July 2026
His move to the Foreign Office gives climate diplomacy a seat at one of the three great offices of state, at the exact moment the UK is preparing to take over the G20 presidency in 2027, following the US presidency in 2026.

— Nina Seega, Forbes.com, 23 July 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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“Hairsplitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hairsplitting. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of hairsplitting

adjective

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