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
-
The collection is highly versatile, offering both subtle nods to the sport and head-to-toe outfits, all created in a patriotic color palette of red, white and a variety of blues.—
Kelsey Legg,
ABC News,
3 June 2026 -
The actress, also known for Todd Haynes' film May December, later comments on that subtle addition in a May 2026 interview.—
Entertainment Weekly,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Removing the surrounding rock and exposing delicate anatomical details required years of careful work.—
Sanaa El-Sayed,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
-
Adaptation is always a delicate balance.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Among the city’s finest is Michael Lepage, who has been honing his Paul Revere character for over 30 years.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
But in this case, store-bought is also fine—often even great.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
7 June 2026
Adjective
-
Then, just moments later — 16 seconds to be exact — Mitch Marner was credited with a goal after Carolina defenseman Sean Walker tipped his shot into the back of his own net.—
Matt Reigle,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 2026
-
The man’s name and the exact cause of his medical condition or injury was not available but will be confirmed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
7 June 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 9 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
