as in expert
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field
a British mystery writer who's an undisputed dab hand at building suspense
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Recent Examples of dab hand
In addition to the outfits of the characters in her famous self-portraits, American artist Cindy Sherman is also a dab hand at finds for herself.
—
Lily Templeton, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019
All of which curious George, a dab hand at psychological manipulation, coaxes along with the gentlest of nudges.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025
In addition to the outfits of the characters in her famous self-portraits, American artist Cindy Sherman is also a dab hand at finds for herself.
—Lily Templeton, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019
Van Norden, a dab hand with Shakespeare, is a natural for Shaw.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024
Benedict, meanwhile, is an expert colorist, a dab hand with print who knows all about decorative drama.
—Grace McCloud, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2023
Zach is a dab hand at herbal knockout potions and the occasional amateur amputation, and there’s a scene featuring the latter in which Wheatley indulges his twin tastes for deadpan comedy and head-on gross-outs to the extreme.
—BostonGlobe.com, 14 Apr. 2021
Sarah, a dab hand at deflecting sexism and maintaining her professional composure, takes the microphone and expresses her excitement at being on board.
—Justin Chang Film Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2020
That, perhaps, is a little less in the bag, but the Kremlin’s operatives are dab hands at suppressing protests and neutering the press.
—The Economist, 12 Mar. 2020
Lily Templeton, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019
All of which curious George, a dab hand at psychological manipulation, coaxes along with the gentlest of nudges.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025
In addition to the outfits of the characters in her famous self-portraits, American artist Cindy Sherman is also a dab hand at finds for herself.
—Lily Templeton, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019
Van Norden, a dab hand with Shakespeare, is a natural for Shaw.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024
Benedict, meanwhile, is an expert colorist, a dab hand with print who knows all about decorative drama.
—Grace McCloud, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2023
Zach is a dab hand at herbal knockout potions and the occasional amateur amputation, and there’s a scene featuring the latter in which Wheatley indulges his twin tastes for deadpan comedy and head-on gross-outs to the extreme.
—BostonGlobe.com, 14 Apr. 2021
Sarah, a dab hand at deflecting sexism and maintaining her professional composure, takes the microphone and expresses her excitement at being on board.
—Justin Chang Film Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2020
That, perhaps, is a little less in the bag, but the Kremlin’s operatives are dab hands at suppressing protests and neutering the press.
—The Economist, 12 Mar. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dab hand
Noun
-
Reality does not meet the hype, according to one expert.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
11 May 2025
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But about a quarter of women in the U.S. are behind on such screenings, and medical experts say reducing that is key to the ultimate goal of eliminating cervical cancer.—
Jennifer Ludden,
NPR,
10 May 2025
Noun
-
Padova, his university city, is 20 kilometers from the floating city, and his masters thesis focused on subsidence in Venice.—
Julia Buckley,
CNN Money,
4 May 2025
-
Jackson Simmonds, a master colorist and stylist in New York City, is the first to recommend at-home solutions that will keep his color clients covered (literally) for a bit longer between their visits to his chair.—
Jenny Berg,
Allure,
2 May 2025
Noun
-
Weiss said some scholars believe the prophecy was written in support of a cardinal who was campaigning to be the next pope.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
-
Although the origins of the doctrine remain in some dispute, most scholars cite its first mention in ancient Roman law.—
Alexandra Klass,
The Conversation,
2 May 2025
Noun
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Slot shares this staple of Tottenham counterpart Ange Postecoglou’s attacking principles, with Porro adept at tucking inside to disrupt the opposition shape.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
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The result is that just these English words, representing just this original document, make for a new and somewhat undiscovered book, even to Marxist adepts.—
Benjamin Kunkel,
Harpers Magazine,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Not long after addressing Harry Potter fans’ concerns that an American actor will play the British wizard Albus Dumbledore, John Lithgow is turning to a different criticism of his casting in HBO‘s Potter series: backlash over boarding a project exec-produced by J.K. Rowling.—
Rebecca Luther,
TVLine,
28 Apr. 2025
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Chris recruits Brax to help as well as a room of brilliant computer wizards led by Justine, Chris' partner with nonverbal autism who communicates via a British computer voice.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
On colorful plinths made by Sarabande artist Adam, the brand showcased their special edition of Vintage 2015 in tribute to Jean-Michel Basquiat.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
Footwear News,
12 May 2025
-
Grammy-winning artist John Legend opened up about the troubling transformation of longtime collaborator and friend Kanye West in a candid interview with The London Times published on Saturday (May 10).—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
12 May 2025
Noun
-
During a pivotal moment of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club on Broadway, country virtuoso Orville Peck makes a bold choice.—
Stephen Daw,
Billboard,
15 Apr. 2025
-
The jazz band includes some of the top young players in the state, led by teen saxophone virtuoso Kahlil Childs, who won the Jazz Excellence Organization’s Young Artist Grant.—
San Diego Union-Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Here’s what those LinkedIn gurus aren't telling you.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
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John, a club and restaurant owner known around town as a nightlife guru, has rights to the land for up to 100 years under the comprehensive agreement.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dab hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dab%20hand. Accessed 16 May. 2025.
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