as in narrow
showing little difference in the standing of the competitors
a hairbreadth victory, but a victory nevertheless
Synonyms & Similar Words
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variants
or hairsbreadth
as in inch
a very small distance or degree
just missed the bull's-eye by a hairbreadth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hairbreadth
Andrew Cockburn, Harper’s Magazine , 20 July 2022
That mad quest for immortality is only one thread in an intricate narrative that encompasses witchcraft, impossible transformations, hairbreadth escapes, killer clowns and an assortment of innovative murders.
—Washington Post, 28 Nov. 2021
Nancy Pelosi will have a hairbreadth four-vote majority in the House with two seats still undecided.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 17 Dec. 2020
The hairbreadth outcome in the race belied its sweeping consequences.
—Author: Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Mar. 2018
Kirk Semple and Marina Franco, New York Times, 4 June 2017
The year closed with the hairbreadth victory of a law-and-order Presidential nominee whose Southern strategy of racial politicking remade the electoral map.
—Jelani Cobb, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2017
Adjective
In the end, Cuellar and his corporate backers carried the day (one marked also by the Uvalde school massacre), albeit by a hairbreadth margin.
—Andrew Cockburn, Harper’s Magazine , 20 July 2022
That mad quest for immortality is only one thread in an intricate narrative that encompasses witchcraft, impossible transformations, hairbreadth escapes, killer clowns and an assortment of innovative murders.
—Washington Post, 28 Nov. 2021
Nancy Pelosi will have a hairbreadth four-vote majority in the House with two seats still undecided.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 17 Dec. 2020
The hairbreadth outcome in the race belied its sweeping consequences.
—Author: Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Mar. 2018
Noun
Should the electoral officials’ math hold up, the hairbreadth victory is likely to provide only limited comfort to Mr. del Mazo’s party.
—Kirk Semple and Marina Franco, New York Times, 4 June 2017
The year closed with the hairbreadth victory of a law-and-order Presidential nominee whose Southern strategy of racial politicking remade the electoral map.
—Jelani Cobb, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hairbreadth
Adjective
-
The historically narrow majority that Republicans hold in the House of Representatives means this opposition will probably continue.—
Justin Peck / Made by History,
TIME,
14 Mar. 2025
-
Rubrik beat Wall Street’s expectations, posting an adjusted loss of 18 cents per share for its fourth quarter, which was narrower than the 39 cent loss expected from analysts polled by LSEG.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Then a 3-pointer over Celtics 7-1 center Luke Kornet — just inches from the Nets’ bench — confirmed what his teammates suspected.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2025
-
The storms are packing quarter-sized hail (1 inch).—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Many close followers of Barca have remarked on how players seem to understand what the coach wants of them perfectly, which had not always been the case in previous seasons.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
The Athletic,
13 Mar. 2025
-
However, a small portion of them, known as potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs), do require closer monitoring.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Their ace, Gerrit Cole, will undergo Tommy John surgery on Tuesday after seeking multiple opinions on his right elbow.—
Gary Phillips,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2025
-
The former Mets’ ace signed a five-year deal with the Texas Rangers, underwent the surgery on June 12, 2023 and returned Sept. 13. deGrom is a little over two years older than Cole and was averaging 99.1 on the pitch before undergoing the operation a few days before his 35th birthday.—
Larry Fleisher,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Instead of inching toward 30/30 seasons, all three took a step backward.—
John Romano,
Orlando Sentinel,
19 Mar. 2025
-
Your favorite small-screen monster mash is one step closer to being back in your eyeballs.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The style icon — on- and off-screen — paired the black and green dress with a simple silver chain and hoops, and added a touch of warmth with her red hair and complementary glam.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
9 Mar. 2025
-
Jumping on to a motorbike and roaring down the road with the wind in your hair is great feeling, brain damage not so fun.—
David G.W. Birch,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Occasionally, someone dressed it up or made out with it, and people liked to hang Mardi Gras beads around its neck, but nobody made it into a big deal.—
Zach Helfand,
The New Yorker,
10 Mar. 2025
-
Becerra Moran became upset, the Times reported, when a supervisor arrived and asked the officers to leave, pushing a mini-fridge toward them and holding a knife to her neck, which made the officers draw their guns.—
James Factora,
Them,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hairbreadth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hairbreadth. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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