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Glite Dictionary
razor-thin

razor-thin

7 4.4
Very small in amount or size, often for close results
  • adjective
  • /ˈreɪzər θɪn/
translation icon : extremadamente delgado
  • In other news, the Minnesota Senate race is down to razor-thin margins.
  • razor-thin margin
  • razor-thin majority

Now you realize Piggy Pro, the premium phone stand, it's razor thin and infinitely adjustable.

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Examples

  • Hence the constant rhetoric of a tight race and razor-thin margins.

    Blog text (21)

  • The price on those items may be high, but the margins can still be razor-thin for stores.

    Blog text (13)

  • In any case, it's a razor-thin race, at least until we get past debate week polling.

    Blog text (28)

  • In the House of Representatives, it passed by a razor-thin vote of 217-215.

    Academic text (2006)

  • The polls also predicted the last two presidential elections would be by a razor-thin margin, and they were.

    Blog text (15)

  • However, NAFTA garnered significant opposition in the United States, and it passed Congress by only a razor-thin majority.

    Academic text (2005)

  • The parliamentary election of December 1995 returned the KMT with a razor-thin majority of only two seats in the Legislative Yuan.

    Academic text (1996)

  • The GOP did grab the state AG post by a razor-thin margin and pulled out both statewide amendments yesterday.

    Blog text (33)

  • The election was decided by a razor-thin margin, with only a few hundred votes separating the candidates.

  • She was wearing a dress that had a razor-thin cut, emphasizing her elegant figure.

Synonyms

thin
vsrazor-thin
420 1.0

Not thick from side to side, for example a line or a slice

is narrower in use, often highlighting very small margins or gaps
narrow
vsrazor-thin
290 1.0

Having little distance between two sides

is used similarly but often to stress minute differences or margins
fine
vsrazor-thin
252 1.0

Has very small particles so it feels smooth

is focused more on extreme smallness of width or of a margin
slim
vsrazor-thin
60 1.0

Thin and with little body fat

is more likely to stress extremely small margins rather than appearance alone
paper-thin
vsrazor-thin
8 3.9

Very thin and easily damaged, like a sheet of paper

is similar but is also common for very small numerical differences
slender
vsrazor-thin
7 3.5

Small in amount or value

is used more for very small physical width or close margins
wafer-thin
vsrazor-thin
1 3.7

Very flat with almost no height, like a sheet of paper

is used to describe a very small margin or difference
skinny as a rail
vsrazor-thin
  • Informal
1 7.0

Very thin person with little or no fat

is applied to objects or situations and often to tiny margins
ultrathin
vsrazor-thin
1 4.4

Extremely thin in shape or size

is used as well for tiny margins or close outcomes
slimline
vsrazor-thin
1 4.4

Thin and small in a neat, attractive shape

is used more broadly to mean a very small difference or gap
gossamer-thin
vsrazor-thin
7.3

Very thin and light, like a fine spider web

is applied similarly but often emphasizes very small margins

Antonyms

wide
∞ 1.0

Large in size, amount, or range

thick
585 1.0

Having a large distance between two sides and often very dense

How Thin

razor-thin
7 4.4
thin
420 1.0
narrow
290 1.0
wide
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

razor-thin positive

Morphology

razor-thin = razor + thin (transparent) = razor + thin

The meaning is a direct metaphorical comparison ('as thin as a razor'); learners can infer extreme thinness or a very small margin from the two components.

Etymology

Razor-thin joins razor, a very sharp blade used for cutting, and thin. Think of something as thin or as close as a razor's edge, so razor-thin means extremely thin or a very 'small' margin.