dabbling 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of dabblingnext
as in entertaining

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dabbling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of dabble
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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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of dabbling
Verb
Thomas was first brought on as somewhat of an amateur photographer to take pictures of Julia’s outfits, but soon the pair were dabbling in affiliate revenue spaces. — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026 Nature lovers shouldn’t miss taking a dip in Lake Saimaa, walking through the forest to pick berries and mushrooms, going on a seal tour to spot the endangered Saimaa ringed seal, or dabbling in canoeing, cycling, hiking, and fishing. — Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 16 July 2026 Managers must move beyond dabbling, become genuinely proficient, and require AI use from their teams to secure their future. — Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 At the time, Garcia was also dabbling in fashion, making hats and clothes, and about to learn how to become a shoe cobbler. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026 Towns isn’t the only member of the Knicks dabbling in trademarks. — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 16 June 2026 White wrote jingles for commercials (a gig that informed his future compositions as much as Lou Reed’s dabbling in pop songwriting at Pickwick Records did his). — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 June 2026 Refn isn’t the only director who’s been dabbling; there’s been a major increase in the number of filmmakers who are exploring AI, and some brought their projects to show to buyers this year. — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 23 May 2026 Blockbusters abound, among a murderers’ row of musical icons, at the Guggenheim’s Pop-art show, and in a movie that sees Steven Spielberg dabbling, once again, in aliens. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dabbling
  1. entertaining
  2. delighting
  3. goofy
  4. playing
  5. fun
  6. amusing
  7. frivolous
  8. trifling
Adjective
  • Their ability to control possession and territory, while not always entertaining, is impressive.
    — The Athletic Soccer Experts, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • The primary entertaining spaces are grand in scale, defined by soaring ceilings and walls of glass.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 14 July 2026
Definition of entertaining
Verb
  • Buzz Lightyear and Woody have been delighting families for three decades.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • The Dutch were the neutral’s favourites throughout World Cup 1974, their Total Football taking the game to a new level, and delighting supporters with their fluidity, high defensive line and commitment to keep on attacking.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of delighting
Adjective
  • Dylan Mulvaney and Joe Locke get goofy at the world premiere after party for the new film Heartstopper Forever on July 14 in London.
    — People Staff, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026
  • Don’t let his goofy nature fool you, though; Morman’s standing within the changing media landscape is a reflection of hard work.
    — Nathan Lately, Time, 14 July 2026
Definition of goofy
Verb
  • Only the two teams that make the championship game playing a sixth game, but the Heat is likely out of the mix for the championship game with two losses in Las Vegas.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
  • The excitement surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup has inspired many fans, from former players to beginners, to slide into a pair of shin guards and start playing the beautiful game.
    — Nicole Williams, AJC.com, 14 July 2026
Definition of playing
Adjective
  • It’s meant to be a fun exercise in preseason excitement-building … no need for hurt feelings.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 20 July 2026
  • Getting out on the water is one of the most fun parts of any camping trip, and there’s no better way to do it than with this inflatable stand-up paddleboard.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
Definition of fun
Verb
  • The podcast added its own layer of lighthearted commentary, signaling that even those closest to the Kelce family found the coverage amusing rather than newsworthy.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
  • The podcast, which has become a cultural touchstone in its own right, signaled that even those closest to the Kelce family found the coverage amusing rather than newsworthy.
    — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 9 Mar. 2026
Definition of amusing
Adjective
  • The board called the lawsuit frivolous and said Heap was wasting taxpayer money.
    — Josh Kelety, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
  • By contrast, to invoke Rule 11 the asserted cause of action has to be frivolous, meaning that there is literally no credible evidence and/or no legal authority to assert the cause of action.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of frivolous
Verb
  • But that still left the less-than-trifling matter of the second tier’s title to settle, as the teams were locked together on 97 points with one game still to play.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 1 May 2026
  • The rise may seem trifling, but staffers work long hours, and a caffeine budget is a necessity.
    — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of trifling

Browse Nearby Words

dabbles
dabbling
dab hand
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Cite this Entry

“Dabbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dabbling. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dabbling

Nglish: Translation of dabbling for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dabbling

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