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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
Mike Snider, USA Today, 16 July 2025
The brand recommends avoiding dabbing or blotting after applying the spray, as this can cause the fragrance to break down and fade.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 15 July 2025
Denise Primbet, Glamour, 19 Aug. 2025
Taking a page from old New York masters like Sidney Lumet, Lee sets his bank heist flick smack dab in the middle of his New York and then gets out of the way and lets his actors take over.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dab
Noun
Smack dab in the middle of hot dog season is a day to celebrate the frankfurter: National Hot Dog Day, which falls this year on Wednesday, July 16.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 16 July 2025
The brand recommends avoiding dabbing or blotting after applying the spray, as this can cause the fragrance to break down and fade.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 15 July 2025
Verb
The best Korean setting powder Although Korean makeup is all about that healthy-looking glow, a quick dab of setting powder around the T-zone ensures that your look is blurred in all the right places, leaving you with a lasting result.
—Denise Primbet, Glamour, 19 Aug. 2025
Taking a page from old New York masters like Sidney Lumet, Lee sets his bank heist flick smack dab in the middle of his New York and then gets out of the way and lets his actors take over.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dab
Verb
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Ciarlo has been a beauty aficionado from her early age of sneaking into her mother's makeup drawer and smearing Joker-esque lipstick on her face.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
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Laptop screens get spattered, smeared, dusty, and dirty from frequent use.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Canales patted his head and tried to say something to him, but Young kept walking, then angrily slammed his helmet down.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Sep. 2025
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Drying Tips After washing, make sure to pat the sweet potatoes dry with a clean towel or paper towels.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But there is a distinction, Kutwala said, between flying flags from one’s own property and daubing paint across the town.—
Olivia Kemp,
CNN Money,
29 Aug. 2025
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Researchers expected the dogs to pay most attention to the cat doll, particularly when daubed with the feline scent.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But consumers can now tap $3,500 in annual benefits, according to American Express, mostly in the form of credits offsetting purchases made on the card, more than twice the previous level.—
Hugh Son,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
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The future of this rapidly expanding means of devising software by tapping into the generative capabilities of modern-era AI, such as ChatGPT, Claude, Llama, Grok, Gemini, and other large language models, will be discussed.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Consider the house made bread with wheatgrass butter—slathered on a piece of seeded sourdough that is as pillowy as a down comforter.—
Katie Kelly Bell,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Before slathering a new moisturizer all over your face, do a quick patch test on your neck or the back of your hand.—
Allure,
Allure,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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International powers have repeatedly called for Machar’s release, warning his detention could tip the country back into civil war.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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Trump himself has thus far avoided tipping his hand.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The agreement will plaster Carlyle’s branding on Red Bull’s RB21 challenger, drivers’ team kits, the pit wall and the garage, the two companies said Tuesday.—
Leslie Picker,
CNBC,
9 Sep. 2025
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The characters were once plastered all over the original kids' area, the Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera, which first debuted in 1972.—
Kaycee Sloan,
The Enquirer,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Once everyone re-joins the main call, the Cave Guide asks everyone to rub their hands together and clap on the count of three.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
17 Sep. 2025
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Seated in front of Smith, Sanders nodded emphatically and occasionally clapped as Smith laid out his talking points.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dab. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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