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
-
Others may include family offices that offer a narrower range of services.—
Francois Botha,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
-
Thirty narrow stairs lead to City Ballet’s bright, top floor rehearsal studio, with double ballet barres lining three walls, a floor-to-ceiling mirror, and an open ceiling with a treacherously low center beam that high jumping dancers have learned to avoid.—
Marcia Luttrell,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Then a 3-pointer over Celtics 7-1 center Luke Kornet — just inches from the Nets’ bench — confirmed what his teammates suspected.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2025
-
The storms are packing quarter-sized hail (1 inch).—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The news comes as YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s prison release inches closer, following reports last month that the Baton Rouge rhymer would be let out far earlier than originally scheduled.—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Starmer’s deal would send the island chain to Mauritius, a former British colony and current close ally of China.—
Naomi Lim,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
San Diego Padres' ace Dylan Cease is entering the final year of his contract with the Padres.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
-
At the 2024 Australian Open, 7.9 percent of Sabalenka’s serves were aces; at the 2025 tournament, 3.4 percent.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
The Athletic,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The first step involves identifying and understanding the target audience.—
Zoryana Zagorodnya,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Tesla takes a step toward robotaxi services in California.—
Ryan Fonseca,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The style icon — on- and off-screen — paired the black and green dress with a simple silver chain and hoops, and added a touch of warmth with her red hair and complementary glam.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
9 Mar. 2025
-
Jumping on to a motorbike and roaring down the road with the wind in your hair is great feeling, brain damage not so fun.—
David G.W. Birch,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Becerra Moran became upset, the Times reported, when a supervisor arrived and asked the officers to leave, pushing a mini-fridge toward them and holding a knife to her neck, which made the officers draw their guns.—
James Factora,
Them,
10 Mar. 2025
-
Occasionally, someone dressed it up or made out with it, and people liked to hang Mardi Gras beads around its neck, but nobody made it into a big deal.—
Zach Helfand,
The New Yorker,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hairbreadth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hairbreadth. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share