as in narrow escape
a barely successful escape from something undesirable
the doctor said I'd had a close call, and was lucky to be alive
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Recent Examples of close call
Among other recent close calls was a 2023 near-collision at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas, where a FedEx Boeing 767 and a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737, were, at their closest point, 150 feet apart.
—
Karina Tsui, CNN, 14 Jan. 2025
From Mickey Rooney to a close call with chocolate to butter
Victor and Pelton both studied at the prestigious Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, graduating in 1968 and 2003, respectively.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2025
Yet, through it all, the Chiefs remained a quiet constant, storming through the schedule with a 15-2 record despite a number of close calls.
—Jeff Howe, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Thursday’s drone crash, which punched a hole in the plane’s left wing, was a close call, Sweeney said.
—Alexandra Byrne, NBC News, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for close call 
Karina Tsui, CNN, 14 Jan. 2025
From Mickey Rooney to a close call with chocolate to butter
Victor and Pelton both studied at the prestigious Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, graduating in 1968 and 2003, respectively.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2025
Yet, through it all, the Chiefs remained a quiet constant, storming through the schedule with a 15-2 record despite a number of close calls.
—Jeff Howe, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Thursday’s drone crash, which punched a hole in the plane’s left wing, was a close call, Sweeney said.
—Alexandra Byrne, NBC News, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for close call
Thesaurus Entries Near close call
Cite this Entry
“Close call.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close%20call. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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