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
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Recent Examples of dab
Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Feb. 2026
Use a cotton swab or dab with a microfiber cloth to treat spots.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026
For liquid solutions, dab it onto clean skin with a cotton pad.
—Erica Sweeney, Time, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dab
Noun
Smack dab in the middle of the media capital of the world, surrounded by blocks and blocks of good restaurants and fine wine and sights to see, the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs couldn’t get away.
—Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Feb. 2026
Use a cotton swab or dab with a microfiber cloth to treat spots.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
Then, use a makeup sponge to dab pink into the center of the nail for an aura effect.
—Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026
For liquid solutions, dab it onto clean skin with a cotton pad.
—Erica Sweeney, Time, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dab
Verb
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At the start of the short, paved trail, the green slopes appear smeared with vague suggestions of ocher and mauve.—
Alissa Greenberg,
Mercury News,
13 Apr. 2026
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During one rant against cancel culture and its pernicious tendency to smear the innocent, Tillman brings up Joseph McCarthy as a prime example of a person whose reputation was unfairly destroyed.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Hall of Fame forward and all-time franchise leader in nearly every major statistical category walked into the arena with Timberwolves co-owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez after player introductions, receiving a roar from the crowd and patting his heart with his hand.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
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Form into a ball, then pat out to approximately 3/4- inch thickness.—
Judy Bart Kancigor,
Oc Register,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Place de la République in Paris was daubed in swastikas and anti-Semitic slogans last Sunday after a neo-Nazi rally, and offices of France Unbowed have been attacked.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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Ryvchin, whose former home was daubed with antisemitic language and cars were set alight earlier this year, said both Australia’s federal government and provincial leaders in the state of New South Wales had failed to act on proposals to curb antisemitic violence.—
Katie Silver,
NBC news,
25 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The drought isn't expected to lift by summer, leaving officials scrambling to tap more groundwater to avoid an emergency.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
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The drought isn’t expected to lift by summer, leaving officials scrambling to tap more groundwater to avoid an emergency.—
Michael Phillis,
Fortune,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Predators slathered on a fifth goal just after their power play expired, Ryan Ufko’s stretch pass sprung Tyson Jost.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
8 Apr. 2026
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Safe to say—the sporty girlies are slathering on Supergoop year-round to protect their skin.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Still, any miscalculation or direct confrontation at sea could tip the diplomatic posturing into rapid deterioration and risk jeopardizing the fragile stability in the detente between Washington and Beijing.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
15 Apr. 2026
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Anticipating that someone might tip off TMZ about his presence at Disney World, the Republican Florida senator Rick Scott posted a photo of himself mugging for the camera there.—
Paula Mejía,
New Yorker,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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To celebrate, the president wants to offer free admissions that day to the country’s national parks, a self-serving gesture, no doubt, but one that is no surprise for a man who spent much of his adult life plastering his name on the sides of buildings, airplanes and casino hotels.—
Leonard Greene,
Mercury News,
27 Dec. 2025
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In one scene, Gracie Abrams texts Taylor a picture of the singer plastered on the side of a hotel in Indianapolis.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
23 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Close laughed at Kimmel's joke, while the players lightly clapped their hands, exchanging light laughs.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2026
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The astronauts laughed and clapped before becoming visibly uncertain, as no response came from the ground for a full minute.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dab. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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