as in expert
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field
a British mystery writer who's an undisputed dab hand at building suspense
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Recent Examples of dab hand
In addition to the outfits of the characters in her famous self-portraits, American artist Cindy Sherman is also a dab hand at finds for herself.
—
Lily Templeton, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019
All of which curious George, a dab hand at psychological manipulation, coaxes along with the gentlest of nudges.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025
In addition to the outfits of the characters in her famous self-portraits, American artist Cindy Sherman is also a dab hand at finds for herself.
—Lily Templeton, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019
Van Norden, a dab hand with Shakespeare, is a natural for Shaw.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024
Benedict, meanwhile, is an expert colorist, a dab hand with print who knows all about decorative drama.
—Grace McCloud, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2023
Zach is a dab hand at herbal knockout potions and the occasional amateur amputation, and there’s a scene featuring the latter in which Wheatley indulges his twin tastes for deadpan comedy and head-on gross-outs to the extreme.
—BostonGlobe.com, 14 Apr. 2021
Sarah, a dab hand at deflecting sexism and maintaining her professional composure, takes the microphone and expresses her excitement at being on board.
—Justin Chang Film Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2020
That, perhaps, is a little less in the bag, but the Kremlin’s operatives are dab hands at suppressing protests and neutering the press.
—The Economist, 12 Mar. 2020
Lily Templeton, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019
All of which curious George, a dab hand at psychological manipulation, coaxes along with the gentlest of nudges.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025
In addition to the outfits of the characters in her famous self-portraits, American artist Cindy Sherman is also a dab hand at finds for herself.
—Lily Templeton, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019
Van Norden, a dab hand with Shakespeare, is a natural for Shaw.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024
Benedict, meanwhile, is an expert colorist, a dab hand with print who knows all about decorative drama.
—Grace McCloud, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2023
Zach is a dab hand at herbal knockout potions and the occasional amateur amputation, and there’s a scene featuring the latter in which Wheatley indulges his twin tastes for deadpan comedy and head-on gross-outs to the extreme.
—BostonGlobe.com, 14 Apr. 2021
Sarah, a dab hand at deflecting sexism and maintaining her professional composure, takes the microphone and expresses her excitement at being on board.
—Justin Chang Film Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2020
That, perhaps, is a little less in the bag, but the Kremlin’s operatives are dab hands at suppressing protests and neutering the press.
—The Economist, 12 Mar. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dab hand
Noun
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Millennial fashion expert and stylist Samantha Dawn told Newsweek that fashion has always recycled trends, but newer generations are experiencing them for the first time while millennials and Gen Xers have already been through them.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
-
There are many creative ways to squeeze more walking into your day, experts said.—
Julia Ries Wexler,
Health,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Rihanna has long been the master of maternity fashion.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
8 Aug. 2025
-
The former Florida Gator, entrepreneur, and master’s student returns to elite after her final season in the NCAA.—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Extras include Hudlin’s original 1983 student short of the same name, a reunion with Kid ‘n Play and co-stars Tisha Campbell and AJ Johnson, and a video discussion with film scholar Racquel Gates.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
18 Aug. 2025
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In the 1970s, management scholar Meredith Belbin observed that teams composed entirely of high-IQ individuals were prone to prolonged arguments, showed little cohesion and struggled to reach decisions, with members more interested in debating than collaborating.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
An effective trustee is skilled in conflict resolution and adept at maintaining open communication while prioritizing the trust’s objectives.—
Royce Ramey,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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The digital adept also had a nearly eight-year stretch at Teen Vogue.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2019
Noun
-
Yes, the warrior who fought wizards, ogres and various other monsters in the Roger Corman-produced 1983 sword and sorcery cult classic is back on the big screen.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Umphrey’s McGee jam wizard Kris Myers stepped down in May, a couple years after rotator-cuff surgery.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
9 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The art was created by Melissa Koby, the first Black theme artist in U.S. Open history, and features the silhouette of Althea Gibson, who broke the tennis color barrier at the 1950 U.S. National Championships.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
16 Aug. 2025
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Before this season, McDaniels had never worked with a starting quarterback quite like Maye, a daring artist who paints with long-odds strikes and crafty arm angles.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
There are some artists who are compelled by the challenge of technical brilliance, striving solely to be recognized as a virtuoso of their craft.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Wu Man, a Chinese-pipa virtuoso, performs, with the Knights, the concerto that was written for her by Lou Harrison (Metropolitan Museum; Sept. 9).—
Shauna Lyon,
New Yorker,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
His gurus through the years ranged from Krishnamurti, to Ram Dass and D.T..—
Jon Raymond
August 5,
Literary Hub,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Perhaps the most fascinating peek behind the curtain, however, comes at her career transition to Goop guru.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
29 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dab hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dab%20hand. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.
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