1
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
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
1
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of dab
Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 25 Oct. 2025
A little dab goes a long way, so one jar can last several months, or longer.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Use another clean cloth or sponge to dab the area dry and prevent further water damage.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dab
Noun
A little goes a long way, and a much smaller dab doubles as a glossy, hydrating treatment during the day.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 25 Oct. 2025
A little dab goes a long way, so one jar can last several months, or longer.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
Davis sat afterward with reporters and dabbed his sweat-riddled forehead with a towel.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Use another clean cloth or sponge to dab the area dry and prevent further water damage.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dab
Verb
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The vacuum cleaner has powerful suction, and the mop cleans without sloshing and smearing water on the floor.—
Terri Williams,
Architectural Digest,
3 Nov. 2025
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Trudeau wrapped his other arm around Hadrien, who had smeared fake blood on the side of his face.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Taken together, the answers provided a sort of battle-damage assessment of the current moment, the kind undertaken while everyone is still patting themselves to figure out which parts survived the explosion intact.—
Susan B. Glasser,
New Yorker,
30 Oct. 2025
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That’s cute, today’s masters of the universe will chuckle while patting your head.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Swastikas and other graffiti have been daubed on synagogues and other sites, and security has been heightened at Jewish schools.—
Alex Holmes,
NBC news,
3 Oct. 2025
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But there is a distinction, Kutwala said, between flying flags from one’s own property and daubing paint across the town.—
Olivia Kemp,
CNN Money,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Judge Jack McConnell, who is overseeing the case, ordered the administration to make at least partial benefits as soon as possible by tapping the contingency fund, and to investigate if other money could be used.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
10 Nov. 2025
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Social media users have sparked a wave of memories, while experts say the trend taps directly into current cultural moods around nostalgia and comfort-core.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Traditionally, baguettes are eaten as open-faced tartines at breakfast, slathered with butter and jam, or chocolate hazelnut spread.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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The cousins shave Stone’s head and slather her with a cream to keep her from contacting her mother ship, ironically giving her a more alien appearance in the process.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Bowie linebacker Galatians Paogofie ended the threat, tipping a pass that resulted in a turnover.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Nov. 2025
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Relatives and friends of inmates, however, regularly tip off journalists to unreported outbreaks, and shortages of soap, gloves and masks.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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One version of Scanlon’s blinking face has been viewed more than 6 billion times on Giphy alone, plastered in chat rooms, text messages and social media posts.—
Cristian Santana,
NBC news,
27 Sep. 2025
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But his home operation finally took off when the school newspaper ran a profile on his cookie-peddling scheme, plastering the story on the front page.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Younger children can clap along and sing with you, while older ones can also sing with you, matching your tune and rhythm.—
Kris Ann Valdez,
Parents,
4 Nov. 2025
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Love popped a timeout as Doubs clapped in frustration, and boos rained down from the home crowd.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dab. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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