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
Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
Even very large spending cuts will not make a meaningful dent in those existing interest obligations in a single year.
—Alicia Parlapiano, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Zac Anderson, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Footage posted online and shared by the outlet showed a hotel in Fremont with its windows broken by the hailstorm and a car’s roof dented and windshield destroyed.
—Escher Walcott, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dent
Noun
Making a real dent in the crisis will require bold, innovative thinking and a multi-pronged effort that brings together public and private forces.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
Even very large spending cuts will not make a meaningful dent in those existing interest obligations in a single year.
—Alicia Parlapiano, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Verb
By pushing the deportation debate, Trump is keeping the focus away from the negative economic news that has dented his approval rating thanks to the shaky rollout of his tariff plans and the ensuing roller coaster results in the stock markets.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Footage posted online and shared by the outlet showed a hotel in Fremont with its windows broken by the hailstorm and a car’s roof dented and windshield destroyed.
—Escher Walcott, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dent
Noun
-
One obstacle the Bengals face in their quest for postseason play, however, is the outbreak of injuries that started in spring training and have created a significant hole in their offense.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Apr. 2025
-
One interesting depiction of the Last Supper was found above a German coat of arms, which depicted a goblet, a platter, and a round piece of bread with a hole in it, similar to a Jerusalem bagel.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
In the first half of 2024, 3.12 million animals entered U.S. shelters, according to Shelter Animals Count, a decrease from the same period in 2023.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Analysts project earnings of $0.68 per share on sales of $14.11 billion, indicating a decrease from the earnings of $0.82 per share and sales of $14.88 billion in the same quarter last year.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The goal of this prescribed burn is to decrease the existing fire hazard and to prevent and reduce the impact of future fires in the area.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Traditional office leasing implies maintainable overheads, upkeep costs and long-term financial commitments; modular offices eliminate them and reduce construction costs by as much as 30%.—
Ascend Agency,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Up and down pit road, many crew chiefs anticipated a race where tire conservation would be the primary difference between winning and losing.—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Kyle Larson stayed out, and Blaney won the race off pit road.—
Shane Connuck,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Such reductions would likely require cuts to Medicaid, the joint federal-state health care plan for low-income residents, but exactly how those cuts would be implementedhas yet to be decided.—
Danielle J. Brown,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Meanwhile, the average price reduction was five percent in April, the same rate as in March.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile, public health authorities, including the American Dental Association, support fluoride being put in drinking water to prevent cavities.—
Neal Earley,
Arkansas Online,
16 Apr. 2025
-
Now, new research has found another potential health risk linked to these sugary drinks—oral cavity cancer.—
Brian Mastroianni,
Health,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
That was the sharpest drop except for that seen at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
-
That's a drop of 11 from the previous Sunday-to-Friday reporting period.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
This is a result of a profit-first capitalist system in crisis in the epoch of imperialism’s decline.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
-
Most of the decline in yields was from a decrease in the real, after-inflation yield demanded by investors, which reversed some of the increase from the previous week.—
Bill Stone,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dent. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share