NEAR MISSES Synonyms: 7 Similar and Opposite Words

near misses

noun

plural of near miss

as in narrow escapes

a barely successful escape from something undesirable a near miss with death prompted him to give up skydiving

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

misfires

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 near misses But there’s also an overwhelming clarity that comes from witnessing how fragile your own health is and having a few near misses. — Nick Reilly, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026 Objects in space have crashed, or had near misses, in the past. — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 22 July 2026 In the weeks that follow, these frustrating near misses pile up all across the city. — Literary Hub, 15 July 2026 The teams traded chances, goals were called offside and there were near misses before Portugal finally broke through and tied the match up. — Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 3 July 2026 After several heartbreaking near misses, rescue finally came on the fourth night when crewmember Leslie McNish spotted a distant vessel. — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 In 2025, 55 near misses between a commercial passenger jet and a drone were anonymously reported. — Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 Sučić helped Croatia take a 1-0 lead into halftime in a game where a couple of near misses prevented it from building a more comfortable lead. — CBS News, 27 June 2026 Japan finally breaks through After nearly 60 minutes of near misses, Japan finally scored the match’s first goal in the 57th minute. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for near misses

Noun

On the other end of the field, goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz saved a few close calls to finish off her seventh career shutout, setting a new club record.

— Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 18 July 2026
One of those close calls even ended with Tom Cruise coming to her rescue.

— Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2026

Definition of close calls

Noun

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
The Torreys are accustomed to, pun intended, close shaves.

— Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Nov. 2025

Definition of close shaves

Browse Nearby Words

near miss

near misses

nearness

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Style

“Near misses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/near%20misses. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of near misses

noun

Example Sentences

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