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 But there’s also an overwhelming clarity that comes from witnessing how fragile your own health is and having a few near misses. — Nick Reilly, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026 Objects in space have crashed, or had near misses, in the past. — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 22 July 2026 Traditional safety management depends on people remembering to log a near miss, document an unsafe condition or complete an incident report after a long shift. — Harmjan Derksen, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 In the weeks that follow, these frustrating near misses pile up all across the city. — Literary Hub, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for near miss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for near miss
  1. close call
  2. close shave
Noun
  • The next day, a close call occurred between a Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 taking off and a flight of US Air Force T-38 jets flying over the neighboring Arlington National Cemetery.
    — Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The wardrobe close call was the latest candid moment from Clarkson during her Las Vegas residency.
    — Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of close call
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
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 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on near miss

Nglish: Translation of near miss for Spanish Speakers

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