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 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
-
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
-
The most snow Chicago has ever received in one season was 89.7 inches during 1978-79.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Long Beach Wilson’s Loren Webster won the Invitational girls long jump with a leap of 19 feet, 10 inches and Camren Smith of Quartz Hill won the Invitational boys triple jump at 49-06.00.—
Steve Galluzzo,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The new Charlotte Knights’ manager pitched for four MLB teams from 2010 to 2015, recording 30 saves as the closer for the Chicago White Sox in 2011.—
Shane Connuck,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Apr. 2025
-
That’s in part thanks to a close collaboration between Stein and Weinstein.—
Leah Abrams,
Them.,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
But being the ace of a 121-loss team that was openly trying to trade him wasn’t exactly a fulfilling role.—
Jon Greenberg,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
-
The Yankees began the season with three pitchers on the injured list, including ace Gerrit Cole, who underwent season-ending elbow surgery last month, and Luis Gil, who is expected to be out until at least June with a lat strain.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The technology giant has taken a number of steps to mitigate the impact of President Trump's steep tariffs on China.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Get started with a pallet of pewter square concrete step stones.—
Christopher Murray,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Mary’s hair—once long and lustrous, a lifelong point of pride—was matted to her head, Carlin noticed.—
Sarah Stillman,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Diddy, 55, appeared in a Manhattan court looking stone-faced with mostly gray hair and a beard, but smiled upon seeing his two attorneys, Teny Geragos and Marc Agnifilo.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Designed for use below the neck, these tools help alleviate tension and strain on areas of your body that are more prone to stress than your face.—
Allure,
Allure,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Ambulances were called to take two people — a man and a woman who had each been stabbed in the neck — to hospitals, the spokesman said.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hairbreadth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hairbreadth. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share