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
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
And the score by Michael Abels (who collaborated with Jordan Peele on Get Out and Nope) is an all-timer, unsettling and steeped in dread to start and then frenetically nerve-shredding as things get hairier.
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026
Where are hairy ghost pipefish found?
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 15 May 2026
According to the Journal of Fish Biology, the hairy ghost pipefish — loosely related to seahorses, pipefishes and sea dragons — may be found in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, New Caledonia and Tonga.
—Shyla Watson, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
But while the hairy ghost pipefish Solenostomus snuffleupagus was recently described for the first time in the journal Fish Biology, Harasti has long suspected its existence.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hairy
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.
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026
Where are hairy ghost pipefish found?
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 15 May 2026
According to the Journal of Fish Biology, the hairy ghost pipefish — loosely related to seahorses, pipefishes and sea dragons — may be found in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, New Caledonia and Tonga.
—Shyla Watson, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
But while the hairy ghost pipefish Solenostomus snuffleupagus was recently described for the first time in the journal Fish Biology, Harasti has long suspected its existence.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hairy
Cite this Entry
“Hairy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hairy. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hairy
adjective
ˈha(ə)r-ē 
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
