hairbreadth
Barely any distance
A hairbreadth is an extremely small distance or margin—the width of a single hair.
Almost always appears in phrases describing narrow escapes or close calls: a hairbreadth escape, within a hairbreadth of disaster, missed by a hairbreadth.
Also spelled hair's breadth or hairsbreadth.
Of small width
- near-missNarrowly averted incident
- survivalRemaining alive against odds
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- dodgeAvoid by quick movement
avoidance · brink · precipice · cliffhanger · squeaker · brush · graze · scrape
Thin split-off piece
- fractionPart divided by whole
- whiskerStiff facial bristle
- shaveCut hair close
- traceMinute remnant or pursue
scant · slim · meager · marginal · infinitesimal · minute · negligible · bare
Perfectly correct, no deviation
- accurateConforming to fact
- preciseExactly correct, no error
- fineAcceptable in quality
- micrometerMillionth of a meter
calibrated · measured · tolerance · minute · exacting · meticulous · pinpoint · surgical
narrow
Of small width
- near-missNarrowly averted incident
- survivalRemaining alive against odds
- evasionAct of escaping detection
dodge · avoidance · brink · precipice · cliffhanger · squeaker · brush · graze · scrape · whisker
sliver
Thin split-off piece
trace · scant · slim · meager · marginal · infinitesimal · minute · negligible · bare · wafer-thin
exact
Perfectly correct, no deviation
micrometer · calibrated · measured · tolerance · minute · exacting · meticulous · pinpoint · surgical · micron
adjacent
Directly next to
skimming · bordering · verging · edging · nearly · almost · within-reach
- close callsclose call, near miss, narrow escape, close shave, nick of time
- narrow marginsphoto finish, squeaker, cliff-hanger, razor thin, neck and neck
- body measurescubit, hand, span, fathom, foot
- fine linesnuance, subtlety, distinction, gray area, borderline
- small amountsbit, drop, hint, dash, pinch
hairbreadthmile
5,280 feet
light-year · infinity · chasm · gulf · expanse
hairbreadthwide berth
Intentional space for avoidance
breathing room · landslide · blowout · wide gap · plenty of room