hairy

adjective

ˈher-ē How to pronounce hairy (audio)
Definition of hairynext
1
as in shaggy
covered with or as if with hair a hairy spider

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fuzzy
made of or resembling hair found enough hairy clumps around the house to make another cat a hairy mass of fiberglass insulation

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling landing on that airstrip is always a hairy proposition

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of hairy Some raspberry varieties have longer or more persistent styles, which is why certain batches of berries seem especially hairy. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 June 2026 Carpet beetle larvae are usually about 1/8-inch long, tan, and covered in hairy bristles. — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 10 June 2026 And those proudly showing off their hairy chests, and pimply backs, scars from surgeries and stretch marks from a life well lived. — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 2 June 2026 Some plants don’t interest them as much, especially plants with hairy or fuzzy leaves or that are strongly scented. — Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for hairy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hairy
  1. shaggy
  2. fuzzy
  3. difficult
  4. disturbing
  5. silky
  6. rough
  7. sensitive
  8. uneasy
Adjective
  • The shaggy golden Saint Berdoodle was killed on June 13 by an LAPD officer while bounding out of Marseille’s Canoga Park apartment.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Yeoh sported a shaggy platinum crop with dark roots peeping through, pairing her transformation with one of the brand’s signature skirt suits.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 7 July 2026
Definition of shaggy
Adjective
  • The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health recommends soaking leafy produce and fuzzy fruits like peaches in a 10% white vinegar and 90% water mixture.
    — Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • Deers tend to avoid flowers and plants with strong odors or foliage with a fuzzy, rough, or odd texture.
    — Steve Bender, Southern Living, 7 July 2026
Definition of fuzzy
Adjective
  • Her protectiveness of the island stretches back years, in part because Nantucket saved her, in a way, during a difficult time in her life.
    — Wendy Naugle, USA Today, 11 July 2026
  • In the book, Hollis asks Gigi to stay after a difficult conversation about the affair.
    — Max Gao, Variety, 11 July 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • And so the disturbing part of the dissent in the mail ballot case was that this was about a very narrow issue, whether ballots that are postmarked by Election Day can be counted if they're received in some period after.
    — Tonya Mosley, NPR, 8 July 2026
  • The film is a modern take on creature horror movies told from the perspective of a young boy who slowly begins to discover his beloved parents are hiding a disturbing secret about his mother’s true nature.
    — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 7 July 2026
Definition of disturbing
Adjective
  • Rabbit’s wide-leg EZ Pants are made of a silky, breathable blend of polyester and spandex, which keeps them airy and lends to their impressive quick-drying and anti-chafing properties.
    — Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2026
  • Strain it through a fine-mesh sieve for an extra-silky finish.
    — Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of silky
Adjective
  • The Rangers had a rough stretch during the seventh when Eovaldi got pulled after allowing one run.
    — Cal Phillips Updated July 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2026
  • His process remained rough around the edges, but Thursday was a great step in the right direction.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 10 July 2026
Definition of rough
Adjective
  • The autonomous coding tool can send sensitive information to a remote server without a user’s consent, the statement said in Chinese, according to a CNBC translation.
    — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 8 July 2026
  • The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the possible crash.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Definition of sensitive
Adjective
  • Now Gauff and her next opponent, Karolina Muchova, face off Thursday for a chance to transform their mutually uneasy relationships with the green blades beneath their feet into the biggest grass-court breakthrough of their careers.
    — Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • The result is a tension stretched nearly to the snapping point, then resolved in an uneasy detente.
    — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 6 July 2026
Definition of uneasy

Browse Nearby Words

hair-trigger
hairy
hairy-chested
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Cite this Entry

“Hairy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hairy. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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