near miss

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 My near misses had been piling up for years, collecting interest. Literary Hub, 22 June 2026 The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a near miss that occurred at Boston Logan International Airport on June 20. Zach Wichter, USA Today, 22 June 2026 Through near misses, heartbreak and a hope that every year could be our year, this city never stopped believing in the Knicks. John Annese, New York Daily News, 14 June 2026 His superlative shot-stopping ability, commanding distribution and defining game-winning moments this season contributed substantially to the Gunners ending their 22-year wait for a Premier League trophy – this after so many recent near misses. Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for near miss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for near miss
Noun
  • After multiple close calls, Ivory Coast tied the match in the 74th minute with a superb run by Amad Diallo.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 June 2026
  • Ahead of her first-round match Tuesday, Ajla Tomljanovic described her close calls.
    ABC News, ABC News, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • The shaver’s gold-foil covers are hypoallergenic and allow for a close shave without harmful lacerations.
    Bria McNeal, Travel + Leisure, 19 June 2026
  • Villa rely on its revenue to push their limits, so going another year on the outside will mean player sales, budget cuts and very, very close shaves with financial sanctions.
    Carl Anka, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Near miss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/near%20miss. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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