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
-
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
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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
Noun
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Total precipitation from both storms is predicted to top several inches, approaching 8 inches in some lower areas and up to 16 inches in mountain areas, forecasters said.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA TODAY,
25 Feb. 2025
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Total snow accumulations of 5 to 10 inches were expected.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Gavin Newsom California's governor is close behind, or tied, with Buttigieg in the recent polling.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
16 Feb. 2025
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They were later photographed briefly locking lips at the event, fueling speculation about their curiously close relationship. 7.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA TODAY,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Allen Olmos will take over the ace role and first baseman Sebastian Valdez was All-City.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2025
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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
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The smartest career reinventions happen when people reposition their strengths, rethink their value, and take small, strategic steps instead of making drastic changes.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes,
23 Feb. 2025
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Every once in a while, a quick step would find a sliver and space, and the scene would shift direction, bringing a new possibility that something big might happen.—
Louisa Thomas,
The New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Campbell’s glam for the runway show featured her black hair worn down and straight with a middle part.—
Julia Teti,
WWD,
25 Feb. 2025
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The replica dust was put through a specialized grinder to create grains equal in size to those on Mars with a thickness equivalent to 1/100th of a human hair.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The ruling was that both players violated the hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent policy.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2025
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Tropicana ditched its distinctive carafe, with its circular shape, thinning neck, and crown-like bottle cap.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN,
26 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hairbreadth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hairbreadth. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
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