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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
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
Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 24 June 2025
Vaporizers and Dab Pens For the cannabis connoisseur who prefers discreet consumption, a high-quality vaporizer or dab pen is a fantastic gift.
—Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 9 May 2025
Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2025
If your child has a runny nose, prevent their skin from drying out by applying a dab of petroleum jelly.
—Aleksandra Weber, Parents, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dab
Noun
Hairstylist and owner of Salon PK Pekela Riley suggests dipping a Q-tip or cotton ball into an apple cider vinegar rinse, then lightly dabbing it on affected areas to dissolve buildup and soothe the itchies.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 24 June 2025
Vaporizers and Dab Pens For the cannabis connoisseur who prefers discreet consumption, a high-quality vaporizer or dab pen is a fantastic gift.
—Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 9 May 2025
Verb
There are even small canisters with twist-off lids for transporting just a dab of that expensive moisturizer or eye cream.
—Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2025
If your child has a runny nose, prevent their skin from drying out by applying a dab of petroleum jelly.
—Aleksandra Weber, Parents, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dab
Verb
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The response of the Zelensky Administration to smear anti-corruption probes as Russian propaganda is misguided and self-defeating, as many within Ukraine point out.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
24 July 2025
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My hands smeared in gore, eyes alight with frenzied ecstasy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 July 2025
Verb
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Slim promptly pockets and pats them for safekeeping.—
Jennifer Leigh Parker,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
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Brinkley recounts that Billy made his way over to the piano and patted the bench.—
Richard Johnson,
New York Daily News,
20 July 2025
Verb
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In another, an audience get to its feet to applaud a famed film director who’s accepting a prize at an awards gala, his face daubed in Indigenous face paint style.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
19 June 2025
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On the front steps, insults daubed in spray paint were directed at both Mayor Karen Bass and President Trump.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
Verb
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That's because several amendments were filed by some House Republicans that would have tapped into the lottery's budget to fund other projects.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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Further ensuring plenty of cash to be tapped was the extension of a revolving credit facility (RCF) from £200m to £350m in September 2024.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
29 July 2025
Verb
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Spoon the finished jam over ice cream, slather it onto toast, or stir it into cocktails.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 July 2025
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It must be slathered across every poster, every ad, every social media post from now until November 2026.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 July 2025
Verb
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General manager Brian Cashman has already tipped his hand in that regard.—
Mike Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
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Second half revenues growth is tipped to be lower than that of the first half, reflecting the record sales printed in the corresponding 2024 period.—
Royston Wild,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
Verb
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When Netflix launched the Glen Powell movie Hitman in 2024, the company plastered mock billboards all over town.—
Mickey Rapkin,
HollywoodReporter,
28 July 2025
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Mary moved into an apartment in the Bronx, in the same building as her brother-in-law, and plastered the walls with tape, to prevent reality-TV shows from recording her and Angie through the cracks.—
Rachel Aviv,
New Yorker,
21 July 2025
Verb
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The short clip shows Aguilera — an executive producer on the musical — smiling and clapping during the performance, with scenes from the production spliced throughout.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
20 July 2025
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As the song continued, Amora, from her highchair, chewed her food and clapped alongside her mom to the song.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dab. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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