hairy

American  

[hair-ee] / ˈhɛər i /

adjective

hairier, hairiest

1. covered with hair; having much hair.

   Synonyms:

   shaggy, woolly, furry

2. consisting of or resembling hair.

   moss of a hairy texture.

3. Informal.

   1. causing anxiety or fright.

      a hairy trip through the rapids.

   2. full of hardship or difficulty.

      a hairy exam; a hairy illness.

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hairy British  

/ ˈhɛərɪ /

adjective

1. having or covered with hair

2. slang

   1. difficult or problematic

   2. scaring, dangerous, or exciting

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Other Word Forms

• hairiness noun
• unhairiness noun
• unhairy adjective

Etymology

Origin of hairy

First recorded in 1250–1300, hairy is from the Middle English word heeri. See hair, -y ¹

Example Sentences

“Can I give you one more exercise—for when things get on top of you? The anger or the anxiety or, y’know, crooked books or hairy socks?”

From Literature

In a typical scene, Miss Holland, played by Van der Velden with milkmaid braids and hairy armpits, chokes on the aerosol of a spray tan.

From The Wall Street Journal

But there have been a few hairy moments over the years.

From BBC

Conservationists and citizen scientists have joined forces for a project to save London's "charming little" ice-age hairy snail.

From BBC

In London, meanwhile, scientists are trying to save German hairy snails.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• furry
• fuzzy
• shaggy
• unshaven
• woolly