1
as in shaggy
covered with or as if with hair
a hairy spider
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
landing on that airstrip is always a hairy proposition
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in disturbing
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
the snowstorm made for a hairy commute back home that evening
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of hairy
Obviously, there’s trauma and loss, but there are also memorable characters at the margins (Dona Sebastiana, one of the great characters of 2025) and magical absurdity (that hairy leg) and a shift in perspective from past to present that pull it all together.
—
Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026
Poison hemlock, unlike Queen Anne’s Lace, has a smooth, not hairy stem.
—Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 7 Mar. 2026
To help keep their moisture levels in check and protect themselves from wind, desert plants often have spiny, waxy, or hairy leaves.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2026
This bit of mammoth tusk is about 2 feet long and looks more like a log than part of a big curved tooth from a hairy beast that roamed the tundra before going extinct thousands of years ago.
—Rob Stein, NPR, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hairy
Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026
Poison hemlock, unlike Queen Anne’s Lace, has a smooth, not hairy stem.
—Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 7 Mar. 2026
To help keep their moisture levels in check and protect themselves from wind, desert plants often have spiny, waxy, or hairy leaves.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2026
This bit of mammoth tusk is about 2 feet long and looks more like a log than part of a big curved tooth from a hairy beast that roamed the tundra before going extinct thousands of years ago.
—Rob Stein, NPR, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hairy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hairy
Adjective
-
This shaggy short bob is so stylish with the addition of razored curtain bangs.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Using a fork, gradually draw the flour into the liquid until a shaggy dough begins to form.—
Monti Carlo,
AJC.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The style is refreshingly informal yet efficient, ensuring guests feel warm-and-fuzzy cared-for, without being overfussed.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The fuzzy-looking crawlers can cause irritation and a rash to anyone whose skin comes in direct contact with the barbed hairs that cover the caterpillar.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There were also high-arcing 3-pointers that touched nothing but the net, a difficult runner through contact that went in, and the kind of gravity that gave Kristaps Porzingis a layup just by cutting into space while the big man dove.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Some things in life are difficult.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Drama stars Robert Pattinson and Zendaya as Charlie and Emma, a young couple whose lives and upcoming wedding are thrown into disarray when the latter drunkenly reveals a disturbing secret from her past.—
Mike Miller,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The details her 10-year-old daughter provided were disturbing for any parent to hear.—
Ashley Sharp,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
While the apples cook and turn silky, the crust turns into a crumbly topping.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
4 Apr. 2026
-
This was, naturally, a full Balenciaga look, from the white cape to the matching silky button-down and wide-legged trousers.—
Katherine J Igoe,
InStyle,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Heat has also now allowed more than 120 points in eight of the 10 games during this rough 2-8 stretch.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Italian coast guard operated in the Libyan search and rescue area amid rough weather conditions, a spokesman said on Wednesday.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
For once in his life, Sting manages to add some sensitive harmonies without trying to steal the show.—
Brett Milano,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
-
By connecting a phone to a computer using a USB cable, an attacker with physical access may be able to exploit the flaw during the early boot process, potentially exposing sensitive data before full security protections are enforced.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Many of these stemmed from the uneasy coexistence of political parties with religion – which was newly protected by the First Amendment – and with the Catholic Church in particular.—
Derek Arnold,
The Conversation,
6 Apr. 2026
-
So the uneasy authorities decided that such impertinence must be silenced once and for all.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hairy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hairy. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
