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 My near misses had been piling up for years, collecting interest. — Literary Hub, 22 June 2026 Through near misses, heartbreak and a hope that every year could be our year, this city never stopped believing in the Knicks. — John Annese, New York Daily News, 14 June 2026 After near misses of Wembanyama and Flagg, the ping pong balls finally fell their way. — Mark Selig, New York Times, 23 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 In 2025, 55 near misses between a commercial passenger jet and a drone were anonymously reported. — Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 This, Wright imagined, was one way Proxi might display its analysis of players’ minds, an aerial map of loves, phobias, triumphs, losses, pets, and near misses plus all the associations connecting them. — Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026 His superlative shot-stopping ability, commanding distribution and defining game-winning moments this season contributed substantially to the Gunners ending their 22-year wait for a Premier League trophy – this after so many recent near misses. — Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 29 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for near misses

Noun

After multiple close calls, Ivory Coast tied the match in the 74th minute with a superb run by Amad Diallo.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 June 2026
Ahead of her first-round match Tuesday, Ajla Tomljanovic described her close calls.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 June 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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“Near misses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/near%20misses. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of near misses

noun

Example Sentences

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