as in narrow escape
a barely successful escape from something undesirable
the passengers in the jeep had a close shave when a mine exploded just a few yards away
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Recent Examples of close shave
The shaver’s gold-foil covers are hypoallergenic and allow for a close shave without harmful lacerations.
—
Bria McNeal,
Travel + Leisure,
19 June 2026
Villa rely on its revenue to push their limits, so going another year on the outside will mean player sales, budget cuts and very, very close shaves with financial sanctions.
—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Last week, for example, a satellite recently deployed by a Chinese rocket gave a Starlink spacecraft a close shave, apparently without providing the proper warning ahead of time.
—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
18 Dec. 2025
The Torreys are accustomed to, pun intended, close shaves.
—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Nov. 2025
Our favorites helped our razors glide smoothly across the skin for an ultra-close shave, while aloe vera and almond oil soothed, hydrated, and enhanced the skin’s appearance — mitigating irritation.
—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
Bria McNeal,
Travel + Leisure,
19 June 2026
Villa rely on its revenue to push their limits, so going another year on the outside will mean player sales, budget cuts and very, very close shaves with financial sanctions.
—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Last week, for example, a satellite recently deployed by a Chinese rocket gave a Starlink spacecraft a close shave, apparently without providing the proper warning ahead of time.
—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
18 Dec. 2025
The Torreys are accustomed to, pun intended, close shaves.
—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Nov. 2025
Our favorites helped our razors glide smoothly across the skin for an ultra-close shave, while aloe vera and almond oil soothed, hydrated, and enhanced the skin’s appearance — mitigating irritation.
—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for close shave
close call
Noun
-
After multiple close calls, Ivory Coast tied the match in the 74th minute with a superb run by Amad Diallo.
-
Ahead of her first-round match Tuesday, Ajla Tomljanovic described her close calls.
Cite this Entry
“Close shave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close%20shave. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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