near miss

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

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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 How Mondo Duplantis Set Up His World Title After two near misses on his final attempt, Duplantis wowed the crowd on his final one. Cory Mull, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025 After years of near misses and heartbreak, the Englishman finally broke through with a dramatic win at the Tour Championship, pocketing a $10 million prize. Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025 There were shouts and even a near miss from a water pistol. Judith Martin, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2025 Following the post, many of Moulton’s Instagram followers expressed their shock at the near miss. Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for near miss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for near miss
Noun
  • What to do immediately after a close call Changing your password or running a malware scan is often not enough to stop attackers.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Controllers at the airport have been under scrutiny since the airport was the site of a January 29 deadly collision between a military helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet that killed 67 people and a subsequent series of close calls.
    Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Our favorites helped our razors glide smoothly across the skin for an ultra-close shave, while aloe vera and almond oil soothed, hydrated, and enhanced the skin’s appearance — mitigating irritation.
    Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Washington’s depth saved it from a close shave Sunday.
    David Aldridge, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Near miss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/near%20miss. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.

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