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Definition of hairy

hairy

/ˈhɛə.ɹi/
hair · y
Adverb:hairily
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hairy Lexical Profile

hairy Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Covered with or having a lot of hair or fur.

Example

"The large, hairy dog shed thick tufts of fur all over the living room carpet."

2

Informally, alarming, hazardous, or difficult to deal with.

Example

"Driving down the narrow mountain pass during the blizzard was a pretty hairy experience."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for hairy

• Nearby Words

hairstylist
hairtail
hairweaving
hairy
haiti
haitian
hajj

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English from the noun 'hair' (from Old English 'hǣr') combined with the suffix '-y'. The informal sense meaning 'alarming or hazardous' emerged in mid-20th-century slang, likely evoking the sensation of one's hair standing on end from fright.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hairy. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hairy
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