Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

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.
hairy British  
/ ˈhɛərɪ /

adjective

  1. having or covered with hair

  2. slang

    1. difficult or problematic

    2. scaring, dangerous, or exciting

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As the Washington Post reported before the hearing, Mullin has never served in the military, but he has often told stories alluding to being in hairy situations “overseas” while on “special assignments.”

From Slate • Mar. 18, 2026

The United Strand: One fan’s hairy battle for a ManU win.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 11, 2026

The only sorrow came when it was time to part ways with the hairy creature she had nurtured during the experience.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 14, 2026

Named the German hairy snail because of tiny hairs that cover its shell and because it is believed to originally come from the continent, the rare species is one of the UK's most endangered molluscs.

From BBC • Nov. 24, 2025

His dented top hat did nothing to hide the deformed length of his skull, or his long, hairy ears.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.