as in narrow escape
a barely successful escape from something undesirable
the doctor said I'd had a close call, and was lucky to be alive
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Recent Examples of close call
The close calls experienced by U.S. F-35s over Yemen have potential implications for Israel.
—
Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
The incidents represent only a portion of such close calls because the database — NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System — relies on voluntary submissions from pilots and other aviation workers.
—CBS News, 21 Apr. 2025
And last Friday, a Delta Air Lines flight departing the airport experienced a close call just after takeoff as four Air Force jets were headed toward a flyover at Arlington National Cemetary.
—Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2025
Mistakes, close calls, and momentum swings are the norm, not the exception.
—Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for close call
Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
The incidents represent only a portion of such close calls because the database — NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System — relies on voluntary submissions from pilots and other aviation workers.
—CBS News, 21 Apr. 2025
And last Friday, a Delta Air Lines flight departing the airport experienced a close call just after takeoff as four Air Force jets were headed toward a flyover at Arlington National Cemetary.
—Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2025
Mistakes, close calls, and momentum swings are the norm, not the exception.
—Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for close call
Recent Examples of Synonyms for close call
close shave
Noun
-
The floating, vibrating head gave me a really close shave, especially with my shaving cream.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
16 May 2025
-
Their characters have had plenty of close shaves, although most didn't involve razors.—
Chris Cosgrove,
EW.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Close call.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close%20call. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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