hairier; hairiest
1
a
: covered with hair or hairlike material
b
: having a downy fuzz on the stems and leaves
2
: made of or resembling hair
3
a
: tending to cause nervous tension (as from danger)
a hairy adventure
b
: difficult to deal with or comprehend
a hairy math problem
hairiness noun

Examples of hairy in a Sentence

The taxi ride got a little hairy. When the deadline approaches, things can get a little hairy.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins poked fun at Travis Kelce’s hairy back as a photo of the Kansas City Chiefs star went viral across social media last week. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2025 The visual of Molly’s head under a blanket and Guy’s two hairy legs dangling over the side of the bed is terrifically funny. Erin Qualey, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2025 Anousheh’s role is to incentivize breakthroughs in areas like carbon removal, space exploration, clean water, and longevity—big, hairy problems that can't be solved on a tight deadline or narrow budget. Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025 Black hairy tongue is a benign condition characterized by an abnormal coating of carpet-like papillae on the top surface of the tongue.9 Accidental ingestion during gargling: Hydrogen peroxide solutions up to 9% are usually safe to consume if swallowed while gargling. Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for hairy

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of hairy was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Hairy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hairy. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

hairy

adjective
ˈha(ə)r-ē How to pronounce hairy (audio)
ˈhe(ə)r-
hairier; hairiest
1
: bearing or covered with or as if with hair
2
: made of or resembling hair
3
a
: causing excitement (as from danger)
a hairy adventure
b
: difficult to deal with or understand
a hairy math problem
hairiness noun

Medical Definition

hairy

adjective
hairier; hairiest
1
: covered with hair or hairlike material
2
: made of or resembling hair
hairiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on hairy

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