near miss

noun

Definition of near missnext
as in narrow escape
a barely successful escape from something undesirable a near miss with death prompted him to give up skydiving

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 near miss Shelton has had plenty of near misses, which made this victory feel like a breakthrough. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2026 The near miss raised questions about why the commercial flight was cleared for takeoff while Marine One was preparing to depart, a period when airline traffic is typically halted around presidential helicopter operations. — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 East Carolina University gambling researcher Michelle Malkin pointed to anticipation, near misses and rapid repetition. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026 At least two ships were hit in the Strait of Hormuz in the past week, while several others reported near misses or warnings from entities claiming to represent Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, according to maritime data company Lloyd’s List Intelligence. — ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for near miss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for near miss
  1. close call
  2. close shave
Noun
  • Allen played Toby Cavanaugh on Pretty Little Liars, who, despite multiple close calls, survived the entire series.
    — Isabella Albaig, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Already this year, hurricanes have intensified rapidly in the Pacific, and Hawaii has had close calls with several hurricanes that brought destructive rain and wind.
    — Lauren Sommer, NPR, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of close call
Noun
  • Gesturing to the youngish man with the close shave, a simple come hither.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The shaver’s gold-foil covers are hypoallergenic and allow for a close shave without harmful lacerations.
    — Bria McNeal, Travel + Leisure, 19 June 2026
Definition of close shave

Browse Nearby Words

nearly
near miss
near misses
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Cite this Entry

“Near miss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/near%20miss. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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