1
as in hole
a sunken area forming a separate space
there was a big dent in the car's hood where something had hit it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decrease
the amount by which something is lessened
a little belt-tightening would at least make a small dent in our credit-card debt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to reduce
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent
hopefully this vacation won't dent our bank account too much
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dent
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
One meteor that plunged into the sleepy British town of Winchcombe in 2021 — leaving a sizable dent in a family’s driveway — was found to have a D/H ratio that almost perfectly matched that of Earth’s oceans.
—Quanta Magazine, 12 June 2026
Michael Luo, New Yorker, 14 June 2026
Robot soccer power raises safety concerns A robot strong enough to dent a wall can damage more than drywall.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dent
Noun
But several shots appear to hit with enough force to leave visible impact marks and dents in the wall.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
One meteor that plunged into the sleepy British town of Winchcombe in 2021 — leaving a sizable dent in a family’s driveway — was found to have a D/H ratio that almost perfectly matched that of Earth’s oceans.
—Quanta Magazine, 12 June 2026
Verb
Barton’s work has been eviscerated by scholars, but this has hardly dented his popularity.
—Michael Luo, New Yorker, 14 June 2026
Robot soccer power raises safety concerns A robot strong enough to dent a wall can damage more than drywall.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dent
Noun
-
The crash also resulted in a large hole in the side of the vessel.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
-
The piece has seven holes for customization, and it’s designed to be worn at the hips or waist.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
Noun
-
Even when those withdrawals are planned, seeing balances decrease can feel unsettling.—
Andrew Rosen,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
There are contact tracing efforts in place, but Congo reported a decrease in reporting coverage last week due to the expansion of the outbreak into new areas, and to community resistance.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
New flyover ramps connecting to I-95 would also be built, while sound barriers would be installed along both sides of the corridor to help reduce traffic noise for nearby residents.—
Joan Murray,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
-
The rich treatment balances strengthening plant proteins with nourishing rosehip and sweet almond oils to reduce breakage and replenish moisture.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
23 June 2026
Noun
-
Amenities will include a fitness center, dog park, fire pits and grills, free parking, EV charging stations and a 1-mile walking trail.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
19 June 2026
-
Kids can take a train ride around the park, play in corn pits or cool down at the waterpark.—
Delia Rose Sauer,
Miami Herald,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
The final number of staffing reductions could change as the district transitions between fiscal years, according to the district.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
-
With this uptick in usage, Google hasn’t seen a reduction of headcount – companies are leaning into AI as an enhancement tool.—
Gene Marks,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Noun
-
What was left showed a cavity about 3 light-years long and with an opening angle of 45 degrees, leading back to the black hole itself.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
16 June 2026
-
Some pine tree-nesting birds have been known to peck the tree trunk around the nest cavity so the sap will run down and protect the babies from climbing snakes.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Mix one drop of castile soap with 16 ounces of warm water in a spray bottle.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
18 June 2026
-
Retailers face challenges from SNAP cuts and consumer fatigue, needing to demonstrate value as price drops will be delayed for months.—
Phil Lempert,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
The findings indicate that bird-watching and similar hobbies may support overall brain health, though researchers stop short of saying the activity definitively halts cognitive decline.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
-
Earlier this year, a judge ordered the Bureau of Land Management to close roughly 2,000 miles of off highway vehicle trails in the western Mojave to reduce ongoing harm to the endangered desert tortoise, a keystone species of the local ecosystem whose numbers are in steep decline.—
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dent. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
