dabbing

verb

present participle of dab
1
as in smearing

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in tapping

Related Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dabbing
  1. smearing
  2. tapping
  3. daubing
  4. flicking
  5. slathering
  6. patting
  7. anointing
  8. clapping
Verb
  • At the entrance of Kollparay, Quispe pauses, taking my hands and smearing them with soil—the soil of her village.
    — Paola Miglio, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 June 2026
  • This will lead to smearing dust particles around instead of picking them up, which is where a wet cloth comes into play.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 5 June 2026
Definition of smearing
Verb
  • Students regain access to their devices at dismissal by tapping the pouch against an unlocking device.
    — Wakisha Bailey, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • To be sure, there’s still a supply deficit, forcing consuming countries to keep tapping their reserves, which are reaching critically low levels.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of tapping
Verb
  • 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
Definition of daubing
Verb
  • Within a few minutes, Hutchinson has his mobile out, happily flicking through the screensavers.
    — Paul Taylor, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • His violent men — Scott’s sinister dad and Melton’s sad one — light cigarettes by flicking matches on their ears and teeth.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
Definition of flicking
Verb
  • Each type has its own purpose, and using the wrong method, or slathering on too much (or too little), can seriously undermine results.
    — Anya Meyerowitz, Glamour, 2 Aug. 2026
  • That doesn’t mean slathering on an egregious amount of lotions and serums, though — the 59-year-old actress’s mature skincare regimen is surprisingly simple.
    — Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026
Definition of slathering
Verb
  • Drake also used the opening portion of the stream to reflect on his recent releases, patting himself on the back a little for dropping three projects at once.
    — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2026
  • All of this isn’t just Hollywood patting itself on the back, by the way, a self-congratulation that doesn’t make a peep outside the echo chamber/Peacock Theater.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of patting
Verb
  • By anointing Watson as their franchise savior, the Haslams disregarded all those women.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • All the police will find is a crowd sitting in silent vigil and a bottle of olive oil for anointing the ill.
    — Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of anointing
Verb
  • His routine includes strolling toward the mound and sometimes clapping his hands before taking the baseball.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The sweet video showed Diplo clapping his hands and dancing behind his laptop and speakers, before the camera panned out to show the youngsters.
    — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of clapping
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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dabbed
dabbing
dabble
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Cite this Entry

“Dabbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dabbing. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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