near miss
noun
variants
or less commonly near-miss
1
a
: a miss (as with a bomb) close enough to cause damage
b
: something that falls just short of success
2
a
: a near collision (as between aircraft)
b
Examples of near miss in a Sentence
After years of near misses, the team has finally won a championship.
a near miss with death prompted him to give up skydiving
Recent Examples on the Web
The famous 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis was a harrowing near miss, but today’s nuclear dangers are more complex.
—
Robert A. Pape, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025
Moreover, recent years have shown a trend of near misses at airports across the country that have contributed to passengers' concerns.
—Beck Andrew Salgado, Austin American Statesman, 15 July 2025
Yet, any domestic triumph always came at odds with Wales’ history of near misses.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 10 July 2025
Beckham, arguably the most famous athlete in England's history, finally earned his country’s highest honor after years of near misses despite his legendary soccer career and extensive charity work with UNICEF.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for near miss
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Robert A. Pape, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025
Moreover, recent years have shown a trend of near misses at airports across the country that have contributed to passengers' concerns.
—Beck Andrew Salgado, Austin American Statesman, 15 July 2025
Yet, any domestic triumph always came at odds with Wales’ history of near misses.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 10 July 2025
Beckham, arguably the most famous athlete in England's history, finally earned his country’s highest honor after years of near misses despite his legendary soccer career and extensive charity work with UNICEF.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for near miss
Cite this Entry
“Near miss.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/near%20miss. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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