as in subtle
made or done with extreme care and accuracy
usage experts have attempted to make some hairsplitting distinctions between the two words, but most writers blithely ignore them
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hairsplitting
Adjective
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Another camera, an eye tuned to the subtle strangeness of an otherwise ordinary day—someone or something, somewhere, must have caught a glimmer of the truth.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026 -
Vice President Vance, who is considered an isolationist, expressed private skepticism ahead of the attacks, and his relative silence during the first weeks of the war was perceived as a subtle way of distancing himself from the conflict.—
Jonathan Lemire,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The paramedic suddenly had to balance the urgency of a wartime emergency with the delicate, critical first steps of childbirth.—
Eric Mack,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Miranda's fingers are elegant, delicate as bird bones.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Eden au Lac has been a Zürich institution since 1909—a fine figure of a lakeside hotel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Apr. 2026
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In fine fashion, the speedy forward, who underwent groin surgery in the preseason after arriving in a trade with Nashville, struck a perfect cross that was headed into goal by Tyler Boyd, increasing the lead to 6-0 in the 70th minute.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Strict regulations required the new buildings to follow the exact blueprint of the original layout, so bungalows, villas and residences are scattered between lush gardens and the shoreline.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
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Scientists knew it was triggered by the real world creeping in, but the exact microscopic cause remained out of reach.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Hairsplitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hairsplitting. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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