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Definitions

by a hair

ADVERB
hardly
Synonyms
STRONGEST
barely comparatively practically rarely seldom simply somewhat
STRONG
just
WEAK
almost inconceivably almost not by no means detectably faintly gradually imperceptibly infrequently little no more than no way not a bit not at all not by much not likely not markedly not measurably not much not notably not noticeably not often not quite once in a blue moon only only just perceptibly pretty near scantly slightly sparsely sporadically with trouble
Antonyms
STRONGEST
frequently
WEAK
very
ADVERB
narrowly
Synonyms
STRONGEST
barely carefully
WEAK
almost by a whisker by narrow margin close nearly only just painstakingly scarcely scrutinizingly
Antonyms
WEAK
carelessly imprecisely

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Although revenue grew 2.5% to $2.56 billion, the number missed analysts’ calls for $2.57 billion by a hair.

From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026

For 35 years, Cruise’s super spy Ethan Hunt and his rotating, crackerjack team of rogue agents have been saving the world from annihilation time and time again, skirting death by a hair each time.

From Salon • May 24, 2025

It’s a close race, but the Tucson takes the win by a hair for its slightly better user experience and more generous standard features list.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 30, 2022

Mr. Florio ran again in 1981, winning the Democratic nomination but losing the general election to Mr. Kean, a moderate Republican, by a hair — fewer than 2,000 votes out of 2.3 million cast.

From New York Times • Sep. 26, 2022

She’d missed the third reader by a hair and blamed Tansy.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck