1
as in shaggy
covered with or as if with hair
a hairy spider
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
landing on that airstrip is always a hairy proposition
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4
as in disturbing
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
the snowstorm made for a hairy commute back home that evening
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hairy
Buried deep in a mound of tribbles and emerging from the hairy pile of creatures, Kirk handles himself admirably, embracing the unfortunate situation with a sense of comedic calm that adds yet another humanistic dimension to the iconic captain's character.
—
Jeff Spry, Space.com, 22 Mar. 2026
That held up as the GWG — but not without some hairy moments.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2026
Joining the trombone are a treasure chest, distorted face, hairy creature that resembles Big Foot, ballet dancer, an orca, a landslide and a fight cloud.
—Cbs Baltimore Staff, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
Jacob goes to Isaac with this hairy disguise, deceitfully announces himself as Esau, and obtains his father’s blessing—much to the chagrin of his brother.
—Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hairy
Jeff Spry, Space.com, 22 Mar. 2026
That held up as the GWG — but not without some hairy moments.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2026
Joining the trombone are a treasure chest, distorted face, hairy creature that resembles Big Foot, ballet dancer, an orca, a landslide and a fight cloud.
—Cbs Baltimore Staff, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
Jacob goes to Isaac with this hairy disguise, deceitfully announces himself as Esau, and obtains his father’s blessing—much to the chagrin of his brother.
—Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hairy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hairy
Adjective
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Later, other stars like Stevie Nicks, David Cassidy, and Mick Jagger mimicked the look in a more choppy, shaggy way with bangs, layers, and tons of texture—instead of the sleekness of the original look.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
15 Apr. 2026
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During a Tuesday, April 7 appearance on Theo Von's This Past Weekend podcast, the 26-year-old country star spoke about her classic look, featuring shaggy, curly brown bangs.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The costumes, by Kaye Voyce, are almost alarmingly on target, from Becky’s try-hard dress to Andrew’s fuzzy orange cardigan.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
16 Apr. 2026
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For example, plants with fuzzy or aromatic foliage aren't as desirable as those with soft, succulent growth.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Putting in the new chip was more difficult.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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The rest will be more difficult.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The story centers on a young couple (Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny) whose lives become entangled with their volatile boss and his wife (Isaac and Carey Mulligan) after witnessing a disturbing incident at an elite country club.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
19 Apr. 2026
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Before the footage was shown, as PEOPLE previously reported, Judge George Gallagher warned those in the courtroom that the material would be disturbing.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The combination of silky cream cheese, smooth jello, and crispy pretzel crust is unbeatable—and truly iconic.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
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The sheets are made from bamboo viscose, which is breathable and feels silky smooth against the skin.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Overcrowding, strong winds and rough seas caused the vessel to lose control and sink, the agencies said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Stars like James Dean and Marlon Brando wore Levi’s in the movies, and kids in B-movies for teens wore them, too, folding jeans into the image of rough, rebellious youth.—
Jack Armstrong,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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This was essentially a copy of the main laser beam, used as a sensitive probe to detect tiny fluctuations that the main system couldn’t easily see.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Apr. 2026
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Berries, leafy greens, and other fresh fruits and vegetables are also particularly sensitive to temperature fluctuations.—
Bridget Shirvell,
Martha Stewart,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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This kind of bare-knuckle politics might explain why so many other GOP leaders are uneasy.—
The Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 Apr. 2026
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The entire record is a Trojan horse—a clear vision of white womanhood that hides a whole lot of churning, uneasy feelings.—
Shaad D’Souza,
Pitchfork,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hairy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hairy. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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