as in entertaining
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as in delighting
to take part in an activity in a superficial way
She dabbled in drawing and painting but sculpture was her favorite medium.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dabbling
Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Just as David Bowie enjoyed praise for dabbling in Black music on 1975’s Young Americans while his backup singer Luther Vandross took years to accrue the same respect, by which point Bowie was musically miles away, the Catalan singer who took over urbano now investigates opera and classical music.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
When first dabbling with plyos, focus on having as minimal contact time with the ground as possible, Booker says.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 24 Oct. 2025
There’s a big difference between occasionally dabbling in a few sailings to the Bahamas—or perhaps zipping about on a speedboat—and true expertise in the water.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dabbling
Verb
And then spend a soft retirement visiting The Rookie and dabbling in the four to seven Rookie spin-off series that are still going and very, very popular.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Just as David Bowie enjoyed praise for dabbling in Black music on 1975’s Young Americans while his backup singer Luther Vandross took years to accrue the same respect, by which point Bowie was musically miles away, the Catalan singer who took over urbano now investigates opera and classical music.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
When first dabbling with plyos, focus on having as minimal contact time with the ground as possible, Booker says.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 24 Oct. 2025
There’s a big difference between occasionally dabbling in a few sailings to the Bahamas—or perhaps zipping about on a speedboat—and true expertise in the water.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dabbling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dabbling
Adjective
-
Chelsea Green is perhaps the most entertaining star in all of WWE, but she’s been largely booked as a comedy character on the main roster.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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Although this Prime Video offering proves a lot more entertaining than the Chris Pratt starrer Mercy that was just released in theaters.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Church’s has been delighting customers since 1952, when the first location opened in San Antonio.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
27 Jan. 2026
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Sabara led Riley onto the stage, delighting Trainor and her fellow judges.—
Emily Krauser,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Sabrina Carpenter’s song about guys being goofy and Bad Bunny’s single about wishing to be more present in fleeting moments might’ve been more pertinent to a rough last year animated by masculine aggression.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
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The Broward County rapper serves a goofy mash-up of Haitian party music and regional drug rap.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While Congress currently appears inclined to reject those reductions, most universities are playing it very cautiously with respect to research and graduate education commitments, given the uncertainty that’s likely to continue at the federal level.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Mesidor lacks ideal length and turns 25 in April after playing six college seasons.—
Joseph Person,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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In the first clip, Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly discusses the accusations, made by many MLB fans, that his team’s spending has made the sport less competitive, less fun and less fair.—
Scott Soshnick,
Sportico.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Holidaying with kids is fun but no one would call it restful.—
Irenie Forshaw,
TheWeek,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As in Robinson’s other works, what elevates them from amusing to sublime is the way they’re performed, often by unfamiliar but wonderfully offbeat character actors — through overly broad smiles, wild-eyed smirks, strange pronunciations.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Melania is shown engaging in less frivolous activities, including meeting with an Israeli woman who was taken hostage by Hamas and is now desperately trying to get her husband freed.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
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The startup says Applied’s lawsuit is frivolous and filed its own antitrust lawsuit against Applied Systems in Delaware’s Chancery Court in December.—
John Hyatt,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The aging Airy had devoted his observatory to stellar measurements that now produced trifling improvements to navigation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
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But those trifling problems aren’t for Jane to worry about.—
Ashlee Conour,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dabbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dabbling. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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