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
Sweaty skin, particularly sweaty, hairy skin.
—
Dawnie Jefferson, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
The agency is now looking into the mechanical issue that caused the hairy landing.
—Brett Tingley, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Though things definitely look hairy in Minnesota, a significant gulf remains between non-cooperation and armed resistance from municipal and state service members.
—Joe Wilkins Published Jan 22, Futurism, 22 Jan. 2026
The woolly devil was spotted by a volunteer for Big Bend National Park in Texas, when on a spring hike, Deb Manly stumbled across a small hairy-looking flower with two maroon florets sticking out like devil’s horns.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hairy
Dawnie Jefferson, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
The agency is now looking into the mechanical issue that caused the hairy landing.
—Brett Tingley, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Though things definitely look hairy in Minnesota, a significant gulf remains between non-cooperation and armed resistance from municipal and state service members.
—Joe Wilkins Published Jan 22, Futurism, 22 Jan. 2026
The woolly devil was spotted by a volunteer for Big Bend National Park in Texas, when on a spring hike, Deb Manly stumbled across a small hairy-looking flower with two maroon florets sticking out like devil’s horns.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hairy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hairy
Adjective
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No one understands or exploits that shaggy zone quite like Bannon.—
Josh Tyrangiel,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
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Instead of head-to-toe fur, designers and showgoers alike favored coats finished with shearling collars or shaggy trim, details that feel easier, lighter, and more wearable.—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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As the song unfolds, their voices begin to braid together like twin strands of ivy—a Scottish lilt and a Montana twang—creeping across a hard stone wall of fuzzy grunge guitars.—
Liam Hess,
Vogue,
4 Feb. 2026
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Bieber's outfit consisted of straight-leg jeans, a white top, and a cropped leather jacket featuring shoulder pads and fuzzy trim.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The voracious reader said that the best books, those that brought him happiness, were not the ones that ease our way in this strange and difficult world.—
Noah Goldberg,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
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Local farmers work long hours, often under difficult conditions, to ensure our food supply remains steady.—
Joe Dymek,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But the extent of our housing affordability crisis is more disturbing than ever before.—
Margi Glavovic Nothard,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
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Beginning with a montage of news footage from the day — the notorious May 1985 European Cup final between Italian club Juventus and English rivals Liverpool — the film’s open text informs viewers, or rather warns them, that disturbing historical images may follow.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Large, round, and flat, lupini beans somewhat resemble fava beans, while their firm, silky texture is similar to edamame.—
Randi Gollin,
Martha Stewart,
15 Feb. 2026
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Nothing Bundt Cakes teamed up with Dove to create this chocolate cake filled with raspberry puree and topped with a silky Dove chocolate heart.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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For much of 2025, their doldrums felt much worse than the typical rough patch that parties endure after bad election defeats.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
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Unfortunately, peel-and-stick tiles will not hold up well on rough walls and floors or uneven surfaces.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Thus, the article stressed that the Chinese navy must urgently address these risks, offering an unusually detailed proposal for a systematic crash-response plan, drawing lessons from US Navy salvage practices to improve readiness and protect sensitive technology.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Feb. 2026
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The Skechers Aero Razor harnesses the explosive benefits of superfoam while maintaining a sensitive, stable ride.—
Cory Smith,
Outside,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Though the private military firm has been credited with helping security forces get into neighborhoods and recently blew up the home of one of the country’s most notorious warlords, the presence of mercenaries operating in Haiti continues to make some lawmakers uneasy.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
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As the pair struggles to survive the brutal Canadian backcountry, an uneasy bond forms.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hairy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hairy. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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