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dab 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈdab How to pronounce dab (audio)
Definition of dabnext
1
as in jab
a quick thrust one more quick dab of the brush and he would be finished with his painting

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in sprinkling
a very small amount she added a dab of sesame oil to the dressing before pouring it on the salad

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in slap
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument a bear can knock a man down with a simple dab of his paw

Synonyms & Similar Words

dab

2 of 3

noun (2)

chiefly British
as in expert
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field a dab at finding unappreciated collectibles and reselling them at a considerable profit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dab

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to smear

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
2
as in to pat

Related Words

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 dab
Noun
Placing a dab behind the ear and leaving it on for 24 to 48 hours can help catch a problem ingredient early. — Ayren Jackson-Cannady, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026 There’s heat to be found in bites with salsa, dabs of hot sauce and, to a lesser degree, the seasoning of the chicken. — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
First, dab excess oil or grease stains from the clothing with a clean cloth. — Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 5 July 2026 The former president's emotions were also on display when Michelle Obama asked him to look directly at her, and their daughters also dabbed their eyes with tissues. — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dab
  1. jab
  2. sprinkling
  3. slap
  4. expert
  5. smear
  6. pat
  7. punch
  8. splash
Noun
  • The book, rife with jabs aimed at the royal family and in particular at King Charles III, has caused a firestorm across the Channel and prompted Buckingham Palace to respond publicly.
    — Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Sure, this would be an atmosphere that most of us had never covered before, with ten months of buildup filled with hatred and verbal jabs.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of jab
Noun
  • Some versions are sold as wedges, while others are finely grated and packaged for easy sprinkling over spaghetti or casseroles.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Danny Boyle adopts a similar strategy with this snazzy screen adaptation, shot through with kinetic energy, convulsive editing and a liberal sprinkling of post-punk, electro-pop and indie rock that thumbs its nose at period accuracy.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of sprinkling
Noun
  • The baby Fins were back to Earth, sweet mirage yielding to the slap of reality.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Hundreds of those grants were later reinstated when a federal judge ruled that the slap-dash nature of the terminations violated the Administrative Procedures Act, which regulates how agencies are supposed to change policies.
    — Anil Oza, STAT, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of slap
Noun
  • Existing law also blocks most states from systematically purging voters from their rolls within 90 days of an election, said David Becker, an election law expert who leads the Center for Election Innovation and Research.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Laboratory officials declined to provide details, citing privacy concerns, but said experts from India, China, the United States, Singapore and South Korea were assisting with the work.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of expert
Verb
  • Sweat glistened on the white foundation smeared across her face.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • One prank involved Quan, Capshaw, and Harrison Ford surprising Spielberg with ice cream smeared all over their faces for one take.
    — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of smear
Verb
  • Trump repeatedly patted Xi on the back, a gesture considered highly inappropriate in Chinese political culture.
    — Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Menace put an arm around him, patted him on the back and accompanied him toward the ring.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of pat
Noun
  • Slicing $50 off knocks JBL’s latest battery-toting heavy hitter into sweet-spot pricing and gives you serious acoustic punch and endless endurance.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The one-two punch of a higher-than-usual tide and weeks of heavy rain submerged South Florida streets this weekend and put the region under a coastal flood advisory.
    — Alex Harris Updated September 27, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of punch
Noun
  • Coastal flood alerts remain up through Sunday evening for splash-over and minor to moderate coastal flooding during high tides on Sunday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Wash it all down with a couple of Wet Martinis, one of the prepared vermouths that packs a punch thanks to the sharp splash of orange bitters.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of splash

Phrases Containing dab

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czars
dab
dabbed
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Cite this Entry

“Dab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dab. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dab

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dab

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