SPLIT HAIRS Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

split hairs

phrase

Definition of split hairs

as in complain

to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant They fussed that the cheese should have been served at room temperature, but to me they were splitting hairs.

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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 split hairs That said, picking a winner comes down to splitting hairs, and the big three camera brands are nearly on parity for focus. — Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 17 July 2026

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split

split hairs

split level

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“Split hairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/split%20hairs. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of split hairs

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