Synonyms of dab

dab 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈdab 

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

• jab
• punch
• poke
• dig
• stab
• push
• lunge
• nudge
• stick
• shove
• jam
• jerk
• jog

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

• sprinkling
• splash
• glimmer
• speck
• hint
• shred
• touch
• bit
• little
• lick
• tad
• smack
• trace
• spark
• particle
• handful
• pinch
• sliver
• spatter
• ounce
• ray
• fleck
• dash
• smidgen
• smell
• streak
• nip
• spot
• soupçon
• crumb
• scintilla
• shade
• dram
• strain
• suspicion
• mite
• drop
• peanuts
• bite
• portion
• ace
• scruple
• skosh
• drop in the bucket
• dose
• minimum
• shadow
• snap
• driblet
• dot
• grain
• modicum
• taste
• molecule
• patch
• whit
• jot
• part
• mote
• granule
• nibble
• syllable
• iota
• section
• semblance
• vestige
• fragment
• atom
• minim
• morsel
• tittle
• scrap
• scattering
• flyspeck
• smattering
• flake
• nubbin
• splinter
• hoot
• chip
• shard
• smatter
• shaving
• shiver
• clipping
• tatter
• smithereens
• paring
• shot

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• quantity
• bucket
• loads
• pile
• wealth
• plenty
• lot
• deal
• mountain
• abundance
• barrel
• mass
• mess
• bundle
• stack
• wad
• peck
• fistful
• bushel
• heaps
• raft
• volume
• profusion
• lashings
• excess
• gobs
• reams
• surplus
• boatload
• oodles
• scads
• embarrassment
• passel
• overflow
• potful
• much
• overabundance
• slab
• chunk
• lump
• surfeit
• superabundance
• bonanza
• superfluity
• oversupply
• overage
• hunk
• overkill
• overmuch

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

• slap
• swipe
• blow
• thump
• smack
• punch
• hit
• stroke
• thud
• knock
• whack
• poke
• pound
• lick
• bang
• spank
• beat
• slam
• clip
• clap
• hook
• swat
• lash
• chop
• switch
• kick
• bat
• crack
• stripe
• sock
• belt
• pelt
• cuff
• slug
• wham
• box
• fillip
• stinger
• smash
• bop
• pick
• welt
• rap
• plump
• clout
• knee
• hack
• douse
• biff
• thwack
• wallop
• buffet
• licking
• bust
• bash
• pounding
• hand
• haymaker
• whop
• larrup
• left
• swing
• beating
• counter
• right
• body blow
• whip
• sucker punch
• shiver
• one-two
• whipping
• counterstroke
• roundhouse
• hammering
• counterblow
• knockdown
• uppercut
• counterpunch
• rabbit punch
• sidewinder
• knockout
• thrashing
• KO
• pummeling
• pasting
• battering
• flogging
• drubbing
• cruncher
• bastinado
• walloping
• clobbering
• bludgeoning
• cudgeling
• right-hander
• kayo
• lambasting

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

• expert
• master
• adept
• scholar
• wizard
• virtuoso
• guru
• artist
• authority
• ace
• dab hand
• specialist
• maestro
• hand
• proficient
• whiz
• connoisseur
• sharp
• shark
• geek
• hotshot
• past master
• consultant
• crackerjack
• fiend
• meister
• maven
• professional
• cognoscente
• enthusiast
• fan
• buff
• craftsman
• pro
• addict
• hired gun
• devotee
• aficionado
• journeyman
• Renaissance man
• mistress
• jack-of-all-trades
• all-rounder

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• amateur
• novice
• beginner
• apprentice
• neophyte
• inexpert
• layman
• dilettante
• nonexpert
• dabbler
• nonprofessional

dab

3 of 3

verb

1

as in to smear

Related Words

• smear
• daub
• slather
• plaster
• anoint
• bedaub
• besmear
• lay on
• apply
• layer
• coat
• spread
• sheet
• lay
• carpet
• surface
• overlay
• overspread
• blanket
• overlie
• cover
• mantle

Dissimilar Words

• expose
• strip
• uncover
• peel
• bare

2

as in to pat

Related Words

• pat
• tap
• tip
• clap
• chuck
• flick
• palm
• tag
• brush
• grip
• clutch
• hit
• cling (to)
• grasp
• clasp
• knock
• handle
• whack
• clench
• hold
• shave
• rap
• touch
• graze
• skim
• pound
• feel
• palpate
• palp

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of dab

Noun

The 1860s estate sits smack dab between our hometown of Nyack and the equally quaint village of Piermont. — Melissa Petro, Travel + Leisure, 22 July 2026

Our own local star, literally the brightest object in the sky in most wavelengths, was smack dab where her source was. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 26 June 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

Phrases Containing dab

• dab hand