spitting distance
noun
informal
: a short distance
Our house is within spitting distance of the park.
Examples of spitting distance in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Moore played a pivotal role in crafting one of the NFL's top rushing offenses this season, propelling Saquon Barkley to being the league's top rusher and within spitting distance of the all-time record.
—
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
Walton, who ranks No. 15 on The Forbes 400 overall, is now within spitting distance of becoming the second-ever female centibillionaire.
—Matt Durot, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
Lunar Lake confidently lands within spitting distance of the Snapdragon X Elite’s marathon battery life, matches its single-core performance, and utterly embarrasses it in graphics performance.
—Jason Evangelho, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024
It’s stayed at that level for a year now and has helped bring inflation within spitting distance of the Fed’s 2% target.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 7 Aug. 2024
Although President Joe Biden won the state by seven points in 2020, challenger Donald Trump had been within spitting distance in Minnesota polling throughout the year.
—Nico Lang, Them, 6 Aug. 2024
Its vagueness is its strength—any cause can be average—which is why it has lately been beat into the ground by every liberal politician within spitting distance of a microphone.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2024
The Seine put the athletes, riding on their larger and smaller bateaux mouches, within spitting distance of Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Tuileries, Place Concorde, the Grand Palais and the Eiffel Tower.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2024
Tribal leaders seek regulation for mining, recreation Longtime Idahoans might remember a time before the state’s population blew up and brought so many new residents within spitting distance of the Owyhees.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 23 May 2024
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.
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
Walton, who ranks No. 15 on The Forbes 400 overall, is now within spitting distance of becoming the second-ever female centibillionaire.
—Matt Durot, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
Lunar Lake confidently lands within spitting distance of the Snapdragon X Elite’s marathon battery life, matches its single-core performance, and utterly embarrasses it in graphics performance.
—Jason Evangelho, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024
It’s stayed at that level for a year now and has helped bring inflation within spitting distance of the Fed’s 2% target.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 7 Aug. 2024
Although President Joe Biden won the state by seven points in 2020, challenger Donald Trump had been within spitting distance in Minnesota polling throughout the year.
—Nico Lang, Them, 6 Aug. 2024
Its vagueness is its strength—any cause can be average—which is why it has lately been beat into the ground by every liberal politician within spitting distance of a microphone.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2024
The Seine put the athletes, riding on their larger and smaller bateaux mouches, within spitting distance of Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Tuileries, Place Concorde, the Grand Palais and the Eiffel Tower.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2024
Tribal leaders seek regulation for mining, recreation Longtime Idahoans might remember a time before the state’s population blew up and brought so many new residents within spitting distance of the Owyhees.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 23 May 2024
Cite this Entry
“Spitting distance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spitting%20distance. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share