Hairy — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈher-ē/

Meaning & Definition of Hairy

Hairy (adjective)

  1. covered with hair or hairlike material
  2. having a downy fuzz on the stems and leaves
  3. made of or resembling hair

Hairy (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. covered with or as if with hair

    "a hairy spider"

    similar: bristly, brushy, cottony, fleecy, furred, furry, hirsute, rough, shaggy, silky, unshorn, woolly
    related: bearded, bewhiskered, mustachioed, whiskered, stubbled, stubbly, downy, fluffy, fuzzy, linty, nappy
    opposite: bald, furless, glabrous, hairless, shorn, smooth
    near: beardless, shaved, shaven

  2. made of or resembling hair

    "found enough hairy clumps around the house to make another cat"

    "a hairy mass of fiberglass insulation"

    similar: furry, fuzzy, rough, shaggy, woolly
    related: downy, fluffy, nappy, puffy, hairlike

  3. requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling

    "landing on that airstrip is always a hairy proposition"

    similar: catchy, delicate, difficult, dodgy (chiefly British), knotty, nasty, prickly, problematic, sensitive, spiny, sticky, thorny, ticklish, touchy, tough, tricksy, tricky
    related: abstract, abstruse, complex, complicated, hard, intricate, involved, recondite, serious, problem, scabrous, stubborn, troublesome, troublous, vexatious, vexing, worrisome, burdensome, demanding, discommoding, exacting, exhausting, importunate, inconvenient, onerous, oppressive, painful, stressful
    near: easy, effortless, manageable, painless, simple, straightforward, uncomplicated, undemanding, unproblematic

  4. marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings

    "the snowstorm made for a hairy commute back home that evening"

    similar: agitating, anxious, creepy, disquieting, distressful, distressing, disturbing, fraught, nail-biting, nerve-racking, nervous, restless, tense, uneasy, unnerving, unsettling, worrisome
    related: bothersome, troublesome, foreboding, misgiving, discouraging, disheartening, strained, restive, unrestful, awkward, embarrassing
    opposite: calming, comfortable, easy, peaceful, quiet, quieting, tranquil
    near: restful, pacific

Related Entry: Hairy-chested (adjective)

Hairy-chested is a different word from Hairy. The synonyms below are for hairy-chested, not for hairy.

  1. as in macho, hypermasculine

    similar: hypermasculine, macho, ultramasculine, male, manlike, manly, mannish, man-size, masculine, virile, boyish, hoydenish, tomboyish, Amazonian, butch
    opposite: unmanly, unmasculine, metrosexual, unmacho, effeminate, girlish, sissified, sissy, feminine, womanish, womanlike, womanly, emasculated, impotent, weakened, androgynous, neuter

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Hairy

The most common words with a similar meaning to Hairy:

Chiefly British: dodgy
bristly, brushy, cottony, fleecy, furred, furry, hirsute, rough, shaggy, silky, unshorn, woolly, fuzzy, catchy, delicate, difficult, knotty, nasty, prickly, problematic, sensitive, spiny, sticky, thorny, ticklish, touchy, tough, tricksy, tricky, agitating, anxious, creepy, disquieting, distressful, distressing, disturbing, fraught, nail-biting, nerve-racking, nervous

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Hairy

Words with the opposite meaning of Hairy:

bald, furless, glabrous, hairless, shorn, smooth, calming, comfortable, easy, peaceful, quiet, quieting, tranquil

Related Words for Hairy

bearded, bewhiskered, mustachioed, whiskered, stubbled, stubbly, downy, fluffy, linty, nappy, puffy, hairlike, abstract, abstruse, complex, complicated, hard, intricate, involved, recondite, serious, problem, scabrous, stubborn, troublesome, troublous, vexatious, vexing, burdensome, demanding

Near Antonyms of Hairy

beardless, shaved, shaven, effortless, manageable, painless, simple, straightforward, uncomplicated, undemanding, unproblematic, restful, pacific

Word Forms of Hairy

Inflections: hairier, hairiest

Derived words: hairiness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Hairy

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Hairy

hairy cell leukemia, hairy-chested, hairy eyeball, hairy vetch, hairy woodpecker

Frequently Asked Questions about Hairy

What does "Hairy" mean?

"Hairy" means covered with hair or hairlike material. As an adjective, it is defined as: covered with hair or hairlike material. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Hairy"?

Other words for "Hairy" include bristly, brushy, cottony, fleecy, furred, furry, hirsute and rough. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Hairy" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Hairy"?

There are 96 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Hairy". Common alternatives include bristly, brushy, cottony, fleecy, furred, furry, hirsute, rough, shaggy and silky.

What is the opposite of "Hairy"?

Antonyms of "Hairy" include bald, furless, glabrous, hairless, shorn, smooth, calming and comfortable. Near antonyms include beardless, shaved, shaven and effortless.

How do you use "Hairy" in a sentence?

Examples of "Hairy" in a sentence: "a hairy spider"; "found enough hairy clumps around the house to make another cat"; "a hairy mass of fiberglass insulation".

Is "Hairy" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Hairy" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Hairy"?

"Hairy" is pronounced /ˈher-ē/.

What is the origin of the word "Hairy"?

First known use: 14th century.