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
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The narrow five-game spread between the top and bottom performers illustrates the relative consistency in baseline predictive ability.—
Giovanni Malloy,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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This would seemingly narrow season 4's destinations down to... Will There Be a Season 4 of The White Lotus?—
Mackenzie Schmidt,
People.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
By Saturday evening as much as 10 to 12 inches of rain is anticipated across parts of the region.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Try to take up most of the floor space, with about 12 inches left around the edges to the walls.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
There are several international destinations where pickpocketing is extremely common, so having all of my essentials close is a priority.—
Jordyn Burrell,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Apr. 2025
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The six-point halftime margin would be the closest Boise State would be to Nebraska for the rest of the game.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Luis Marrero had 20 kills, 11 digs and 2 aces for Lake Brantley (12-2) in its 22-25, 25-19, 25-9, 25-22 win, while De’Aundre Williams had 15 kills and 5 blocks, and Efrain Rivera Rodriguez added 46 assists and 10 digs.—
Steve Gorches,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2025
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Boys volleyball Tuto Sampaio erupted for 19 kills, four aces and nine digs to anchor Winchester in a 3-2 Middlesex League win over Arlington.—
Kristina Banahan,
Boston Herald,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Its maiden and hero product, Rested, hones in on sleep as the fundamental step to optimizing cognitive and immune function.—
Bianca Salonga,
Forbes.com,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Hitting coach Kevin Long went to the top step to debrief Sosa with some video and a scouting report.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Her hair was styled with a side part and featured soft curls.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
2 Apr. 2025
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During a search of White's residence, police found a bloodied scene, including blood spatter on the wall, bleach stains on the carpet resembling the outline of a human body and a hammer that had hair and blood on it, the complaint stated.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
People.com,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Gaynes recommends applying it on the most intimate parts of the body: behind the knees, the crease at the elbow, the nape of the neck, and the small of the back.—
Venus Wong,
Refinery29,
1 Apr. 2025
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Her mother Johnnie Anderson told cops her daughter was lying on her back in bed and still had a knife sticking out of her neck.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hairbreadth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hairbreadth. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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