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
-
Some cybersecurity experts disputed Musk’s claims that a state actor was responsible.—
Ty Roush,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
At the time, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the WHO, pushed back on the notion that anyone was moving slowly, saying WHO experts didn't have complete information with which to assess the efficacy and safety of the vaccines.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Rihanna has long been the master of maternity fashion.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
8 Aug. 2025
-
The former Florida Gator, entrepreneur, and master’s student returns to elite after her final season in the NCAA.—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Yet Putin, who likely has a coterie of scholars on international criminal law who have explained to him the mechanics of personal immunity, is likely to do everything to hold onto power for as long as possible, to avoid losing his protection from trial for war crimes and armed aggression.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
On every episode of this podcast, host Lena Crown speaks with writers, artists, critics, and scholars across generations who have awakened something for one another.—
Awakeners
August 7,
Literary Hub,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
An effective trustee is skilled in conflict resolution and adept at maintaining open communication while prioritizing the trust’s objectives.—
Royce Ramey,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The digital adept also had a nearly eight-year stretch at Teen Vogue.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2019
Noun
-
Entertainment Weekly has learned that a new group of actors are taking over the iconic roles for Pottermore Publishing and Audible's productions of J.K. Rowling's original seven books about the young boy wizard.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
5 Aug. 2025
-
More than 600 million books about the boy wizard have been sold whilst the 11 movies about them have grossed $9.7 billion and the latest Potter videogame generated $850 million in just its first two weeks.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The artist honorees: Sylvester Stallone, country singer George Strait, British stage actor Michael Crawford, disco star Gloria Gaynor, and glam rockers KISS.—
Robert Abitbol,
USA Today,
16 Aug. 2025
-
The artist found out about the sweet gesture after his show, and responded with a sweet gesture.—
Jessica Roiz,
Billboard,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The Match tells the true story of how, in the face of discrimination and exclusion, British-Jewish rising tennis star Angela Buxton and African American athletic virtuoso Althea Gibson formed an unlikely pair that took Wimbledon by storm and forged a lifelong friendship.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
13 May 2025
-
Billy Woods rose out of the Brooklyn rap underground as a virtuoso poet, one of hip-hop’s most independent and brilliant minds over the past two decades.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
10 May 2025
Noun
-
His gurus through the years ranged from Krishnamurti, to Ram Dass and D.T..—
Jon Raymond
August 5,
Literary Hub,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Perhaps the most fascinating peek behind the curtain, however, comes at her career transition to Goop guru.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
29 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dab hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dab%20hand. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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