dint

1 of 2

noun

ˈdint 

1

: force, power

2

: dent entry 2

3

archaic : blow, stroke

see also by dint of

dint

2 of 2

verb

dinted; dinting; dints

transitive verb

1

: to make a dent in

2

: to impress or drive in with force

Synonyms of dint

Noun

• dent
• hole
• pit

Examples of dint in a Sentence

Noun

left a small dint in the car's fender

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

If the stakes laid out for Lady are simple enough, Nwosu saves complexity in her sketch of a city vast enough that a person could lose track of their dreams by sheer dint of distraction; the day-to-day business of survival slowly eroding anything more high-minded on the horizon. —Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2026

Partly by dint of its setting in 1980s London, the novel carries resounding echoes of Iris Murdoch: Kristian shares much with the smug, sybaritic Charles Arrowby of The Sea, The Sea (1978), and with the self- obsessed Bradley Pearson of The Black Prince (1973). —Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026

Verb

But as similar fights play out in battleground states, including Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, and Michigan, repeated complaints about fraud could dint public faith in the electoral process. —Max Thornberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 3 July 2024

Then he was moved to the second unit, which seemed to dint his confidence. —Patrick Murray, Forbes, 23 May 2021

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English dynt; akin to Old Norse dyntr noise

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dint

• by dint of

Rhymes for dint

• clint
• glint
• hint
• lint
• mint
• print
• quint
• quinte
• splint
• sprint
• squint
• stint

Kids Definition

dint

1 of 2 noun

ˈdint 

1

: the force or power of something

—used chiefly in the phrase by dint of

succeeded by dint of hard work

2

: dent entry 2 sense 1

dint

2 of 2 verb

: dent entry 1 sense 1