as in entertaining
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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.
Related Words
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
Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 18 Nov. 2025
Enter Kolomoisky By the late 1990s, the duo had also started dabbling in the Ukrainian energy sector.
—Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for dabbling
Verb
But as public records requests have become simpler and more mainstream, more and more fans have begun dabbling in what is, effectively, investigative reporting.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 18 Nov. 2025
Enter Kolomoisky By the late 1990s, the duo had also started dabbling in the Ukrainian energy sector.
—Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for dabbling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dabbling
Adjective
-
Shear’s funny, entertaining and often-surprising play, which made its world premiere Sunday at La Jolla Playhouse, is not a story about the Child of TV fame.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Rowe and Mark May were presenters, while Rowe, a pioneer in women's sports broadcasting, interviewed all the nominees in her charming and entertaining way.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Thanks to the Muppets’ film franchise and the wonders of YouTube, the wacky gang is still delighting, and expanding, its fan base.—
Jared Bahir Browsh,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Church’s has been delighting customers since 1952, when the first location opened in San Antonio.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But this movie gets to show so many different types of personalities and characters and boldness and fearlessness, and these su- per-hot, badass women who are also goofy, silly and cute.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2026
-
And for one of our goofier episodes, that's a real human, truthful, universal, elegant, touching speech.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun was also found guilty Thursday of playing a major role in the insurrection and sentenced to 30 years in prison.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
On a frigid night recently, about a dozen people arrived at the Evanston Public Library to try playing a new game created by Steven Franconeri, a Northwestern University psychology professor.—
Jeff Banowetz,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Dance teacher John Downing will teach Line Dance basics at this fun event.—
Ut Community Press,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
-
This quiz invites you to explore that legacy in a way that's both fun and surprisingly revealing.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Trump’s frenetic social media activity is also aimed more at titillating his hardcore online supporters (and, again, amusing himself) than persuading swing voters.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
-
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
-
Most legal analysts viewed the case as frivolous.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Telanee Smith voted against the settlement, accusing Sinwelski of filing frivolous lawsuits.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The health factor is no trifling qualifier for a player who has missed time with shoulder and oblique injuries, in addition to that unfortunate incident with his pelvic floor.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dabbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dabbling. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
