as in narrow escape
a barely successful escape from something undesirable
the doctor said I'd had a close call, and was lucky to be alive
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Recent Examples of close call
Now the Supreme Court is considering how the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims should review benefit denials and how to ensure decisions are tipped in a veteran’s favor when there are close calls.
—
Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, 16 Oct. 2024
Game 5 presented another close call, with Freeman’s status unclear until 90 minutes before first pitch.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2024
Coach Colin Thomas will say all the right things after a win, even a close call, but there is reason for concern.
—Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, 12 Oct. 2024
The board usually issues a probable cause for accidents and close calls after lengthy reviews.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for close call 
Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, 16 Oct. 2024
Game 5 presented another close call, with Freeman’s status unclear until 90 minutes before first pitch.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2024
Coach Colin Thomas will say all the right things after a win, even a close call, but there is reason for concern.
—Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, 12 Oct. 2024
The board usually issues a probable cause for accidents and close calls after lengthy reviews.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for close call
Thesaurus Entries Near close call
Cite this Entry
“Close call.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close%20call. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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