hairy

1 of 2

adjective

ˈher-ē How to pronounce hairy (audio)
hairier; hairiest
Synonyms of hairynext
1
a
: covered with hair or hairlike material
b
: having a downy fuzz on the stems and leaves
2
: made of or resembling hair
3
a
: tending to cause nervous tension (as from danger)
a hairy adventure
b
: difficult to deal with or comprehend
a hairy math problem
hairiness
ˈher-ē-nəs How to pronounce hairy (audio)
noun

hairiness

2 of 2

noun

hair·​i·​ness ˈha(a)rēnə̇s How to pronounce hairiness (audio)
ˈher-, 
-rin-
plural -es
: the quality or state of being hairy

Synonyms of hairy

Relevance

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of hairy in a Sentence

Adjective The taxi ride got a little hairy. When the deadline approaches, things can get a little hairy.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
Two portraits of a woman thought to be Isabella—one by the painter Lorenzo Costa, another attributed to Il Cavazzola or Giulio Campi—depict her with a hairy little white dog, who was perhaps Aura, or, if not, one of her relatives. — Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026 This is executed through the use of varying shades of gray throughout the Field Boot’s upper, which combines a nubuck base with hairy suede overlays and a padded calf leather collar. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026 Other witnesses reported smaller, hairy creatures, a prehistoric-looking bird and a worm allegedly measuring 8 feet long. — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026 The experiment goes wrong, the Farmer disappears and a large, hairy creature begins roaming the woods around Mossingham. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hairy

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English heryness, from hery, heeri hairy + -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of hairy was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing hairy

Rhymes for hairy

See All Rhymes for hairy

Browse Nearby Words

hairworm
hairy
hairy armadillo
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hairy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hairy. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hairy

adjective
ˈha(ə)r-ē How to pronounce hairy (audio)
ˈhe(ə)r-
hairier; hairiest
1
: bearing or covered with or as if with hair
2
: made of or resembling hair
3
a
: causing excitement (as from danger)
a hairy adventure
b
: difficult to deal with or understand
a hairy math problem
hairiness noun

Medical Definition

hairy

adjective
ˈha(ə)r-ē, ˈhe(ə)r- How to pronounce hairy (audio)
hairier; hairiest
1
: covered with hair or hairlike material
2
: made of or resembling hair
hairiness
ˈhar-ē-nəs, ˈher- How to pronounce hairy (audio)
noun
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