as in narrow
showing little difference in the standing of the competitors
a hairbreadth victory, but a victory nevertheless
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 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 gap is quite narrow in some places, like Delaware and Maryland, but in places like Kentucky, systemic racial barriers continue to hold people back.—
Ben Berkowitz,
Axios,
17 Feb. 2025
-
Last night’s special had a comparatively narrow focus, prioritizing the characters and celebrities that many younger viewers would recognize.—
Esther Zuckerman,
The Atlantic,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Male anglerfish are small − only about one inch − and are not predatory.—
Greta Cross,
USA TODAY,
11 Feb. 2025
-
In the garden or in a container, this tidy, carefree evergreen forms a mound about 12 inches high and 18 inches wide.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Gavin Newsom California's governor is close behind, or tied, with Buttigieg in the recent polling.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
16 Feb. 2025
-
Saudi Arabia hopes to leverage its close ties with President Donald Trump to provide Iran with a diplomatic bridge to the White House.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Allen Olmos will take over the ace role and first baseman Sebastian Valdez was All-City.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2025
-
The Yankees pivoted to the polarizing Stroman two offseasons ago after Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed with the Dodgers.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
While states have the right to regulate certain farming practices within their borders, California took it a step further.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
-
The next step is the big one: Greenland would then apply for statehood in the U.S. Voilà!—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Ahead, how to get static out of hair according to professional hairstylists.—
Petra Guglielmetti,
Glamour,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Beyond its signature hair clips (think the Big Effing Clip and Sweetheart Clips), Emi Jay’s prestige brushes and haircare products will be available exclusively at Sephora.—
Karin Eldor,
Forbes,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Listen to this article A former Merrillville man was sentenced Friday to 3.5 years in prison for fatally stabbing a man in the neck outside a Merrillville hotel in August 2023.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Feb. 2025
-
She is also said to have had marks on her neck and hemorrhaging in her eyes.—
Scott Thompson,
Fox News,
14 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near hairbreadth
Cite this Entry
“Hairbreadth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hairbreadth. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share