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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of dab
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2026
Dip a cotton swab into 70 percent rubbing alcohol and dab it directly onto the mealybug to kill it, then remove it from the leaf, says VanWyk.
—Lauren David, Martha Stewart, 29 May 2026
Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Simply rub the cut side of the tomato on your fingers or dab some of the juice onto your hands.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dab
Noun
Applying the same concept with a dab of Vaseline under each nostril, however, can trap the pollen and prevent it from getting into your nose.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2026
Dip a cotton swab into 70 percent rubbing alcohol and dab it directly onto the mealybug to kill it, then remove it from the leaf, says VanWyk.
—Lauren David, Martha Stewart, 29 May 2026
Verb
Instead, this cover stick is easy to dab onto your face with only your fingertips.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Simply rub the cut side of the tomato on your fingers or dab some of the juice onto your hands.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dab
Noun
-
Gane finished off Pereira in the second round to win the title on Sunday after sending him stumbling with a right jab followed by a hammer fist.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 June 2026
-
Hokit, who has a history of making tasteless comments after his fights, including the same Obama jab, drew mixed reaction from the UFC Freedom 250 crowd — and also from social media users, with some repeating the false claim in the comments on Hokit’s Instagram page and others chiding it.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
However, even though overhead watering, sprinkling, and misting can cause plant disease, during prolonged high temperatures, a humid environment probably outweighs the risk of plant disease.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
16 June 2026
-
The team has a real sense of unity, as well as a sprinkling of class led by experienced defender Achraf Hakimi.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
Deidre Hall delivered her most shocking slap yet on live TV on June 19.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
20 June 2026
-
Only a few minutes earlier, Abulaila endured an inadvertent slap to his throat by Arnautovic on a pass into the box.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Big Think+ classes feature world-class experts teaching the topics that matter most, from leadership and innovation to personal growth and health and wellness.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 June 2026
-
Nonetheless, Ossoff will have to appeal to independents, who will decide the outcome, according to Charles Bullock, a University of Georgia political science professor and expert on Southern politics.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Over in the next aisle, Gifty Anderson, who typically buys bales from Canada and the United Kingdom, held up a dress smeared with body makeup and tossed it aside without a second thought.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
8 June 2026
-
This will lead to smearing dust particles around instead of picking them up, which is where a wet cloth comes into play.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
5 June 2026
Verb
-
Benji separated from Zack, patted the spot on the bed between them, and then opened up his arm as an invitation.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
18 June 2026
-
Next, apply a lipstick or lip stain with a matte finish—ideally patted on with your fingers—to finish it off.—
Margaux Anbouba,
Vogue,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Our expert take The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections, flexible rewards and more.—
Jason Stauffer,
CNBC,
22 June 2026
-
Daniel takes advantage of this momentary distraction to deliver a left hook, right punch to the gut, asking Lestat about his maker, Magnus (Damien Atkins).—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
22 June 2026
Noun
-
Young guests can make a splash at the 16,000-square-foot waterpark or one of the seven freshwater pools.—
Chelsea Adams,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
-
The excitement of that first game behind them, Advocaat and his players are looking to make more than just a splash in the remainder of their first tournament.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
20 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dab. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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