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
Michael I Goran, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2026
My advice: Use a very small dab on a fan or tapered brush; a little amount is more than enough.
—Kieaundria Bellamy, InStyle, 23 Jan. 2026
Erica Sweeney, Time, 28 Jan. 2026
Use another clean cloth or sponge to dab the area dry and prevent further water damage.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dab
Noun
Instead of bottled salad dressing, make a simple one at home with olive oil, vinegar or lemon juice, a dab of mustard and other flavorings of choice, such as garlic, herbs, or honey.
—Michael I Goran, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2026
My advice: Use a very small dab on a fan or tapered brush; a little amount is more than enough.
—Kieaundria Bellamy, InStyle, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
For liquid solutions, dab it onto clean skin with a cotton pad.
—Erica Sweeney, Time, 28 Jan. 2026
Use another clean cloth or sponge to dab the area dry and prevent further water damage.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dab
Verb
-
Micron has come a long way since its humble founding nearly half a century ago in the basement of a Boise dental office, where sedative gas wafted through the floorboards and an early executive used a hair dryer to keep the company’s logo from smearing off its chips.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
11 Mar. 2026
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There’s a very good reason why audiences emerged from that movie ready to smear lipstick all over their faces for Halloween and then march in costume down to the Dolby Theater to demand an Oscar nomination.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For longer storage, freeze blackberries by first rinsing and patting them dry.—
Christine Fiorentino,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Mar. 2026
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Sullivan patted Hafley on the arm.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Feb. 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
-
Bernard Kamungo intercepted a pass near midfield, raced down the left side and then tapped a pass to Musa for a first-touch finish from the left corner of the 6-yard box.—
Apress,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
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Bethune said while tapping strategic oil reserves may help mitigate the demand pinch, easing sanctions on Russian oil will have little impact on world oil prices.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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My Proustian madeleine is a sandwich comprised of walnut butter, cream cheese, and Medjool date jam slathered on thick slices of black bread.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Mar. 2026
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Elote slathered with kewpie mayo, lime, chile, cotija and a sprinkling of furikake.—
Linda Zavoral,
Mercury News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The scorpion has elongated pedipalps — arm-like appendages ending in pincers — tipped with straight claws and lined with sensory hairs known as trichobothria.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
10 Mar. 2026
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Americans are sick of today's tipping culture — to the point where 83% say automatic service charges should be banned, according to new research.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
10 Mar. 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
-
This results in percussive sounds of body parts clapping against one another and the ground.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The room swelled with hooting and clapping as Samson Fellows climbed onstage.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dab. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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