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
Similarly, calamine lotion or a dab of hydrocortisone cream work well, too. — Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 29 July 2026 The final version mostly holds itself together, though the front bezel requires either some electrical tape or a couple dabs of superglue to stay attached. — Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 23 July 2026
Verb
Simply dab or spray the perfume lightly onto your arm and wait for the alcohol to evaporate since fragrances can take some time to develop on your warm skin. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 16 June 2026 Let the scent soak into your skin instead, or lightly dab your wrists together or dab your wrists to other pulse points. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 10 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
  • Even the cutscene snippet shown revealed nothing, and was just a brief jab at Rockstar about someone using a VPN.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Curt Cignetti does not shy away from conflict, as seen at Big Ten Media Days with his SEC jabs, and now with his scheduling comments about Notre Dame.
    — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of jab
Noun
  • The majority of this year's hottest ZIP codes are located on the East Coast, with a sprinkling in the upper Midwest.
    — Greta Cross, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Think of it like a recipe, maybe adding flowers to a frosted cake or sprinkling powdered sugar atop a sponge cake; Stewart's rose gold hair injects a sprinkle of the same whimsy into the last few weeks of summertime.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of sprinkling
Noun
  • Getting caught circumventing the salary cap isn't some slap-on-the-wrist offense.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • In 2025, Wanda Sykes, who co-hosted the 2022 Oscars with Amy Schumer and Regina Hall, told Variety that Smith had apologized to her personally for disrupting the show with the slap.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of slap
Noun
  • There are a number of other businesses that may be AI-proof or even benefit from its growth, such as electric utilities, said Victor Matheson, an economics professor at the College of the Holy Cross and an expert in sports business.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The supplement glutathione, given through an IV or an inhaler-like machine called a nebulizer, has not been proven to be safe or effective and could expose firefighters to illness if there is contamination while it's produced, experts say.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of expert
Verb
  • Darker smears around the crater’s rim contain surface rocks and lunar dust called regolith previously altered by solar winds, micrometeorites, and cosmic radiation over an extended period of time.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The atmosphere works on them a little bit harder and reduces their strength and smears them a little bit more.
    — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of smear
Verb
  • Taken from their backside, the pair is seen carrying golf clubs as the former NSYNC star pats his son on the head.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Drake also used the opening portion of the stream to reflect on his recent releases, patting himself on the back a little for dropping three projects at once.
    — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of pat
Noun
  • Carter, for the Giants, earlier threw a punch at Paul in 1-on-1 drills.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026
  • One of the suspects used a window punch tool to crack the booth window before kicking it in, police say.
    — Frederick Sutton Sinclair, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of punch
Noun
  • Signing Imai this winter represented a splash for a franchise that is reluctant to spend in free agency while signaling its advancement into the Pacific Rim.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • As a result, the phone is only IP55 rated—safe from splashes but not full submersion.
    — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 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 24 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dab

Nglish: Translation of dab for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dab

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