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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
Savchenko has been actively pursuing opportunities outside of dancing and is dabbling with a career in acting. — Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 Waffle House, the iconic, 24-hour Southern diner, is dabbling in another comfort food — the beloved taco. — Amy Wenk, AJC.com, 20 Aug. 2026 In the case of John, though, had one of you been dabbling in Swiss folklore at the time? — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026 Brown is a creative and curious cook, and is constantly dabbling in cultural influences to keep things fresh. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dabbling
  1. entertaining
  2. delighting
  3. goofy
  4. playing
  5. fun
  6. amusing
  7. frivolous
  8. trifling
Adjective
  • Plus, Joe was and is much more entertaining than Christian has been.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Cristiano Ronaldo’s cameo for United against Bolton Wanderers a year earlier was entertaining, but Rooney’s debut was just stunning.
    — Amitai Winehouse, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of entertaining
Verb
  • The first movie began delighting audiences in 2014, followed by 2017’s Paddington 2 and 2024’s Paddington in Peru.
    — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Remmick, Jimmy Crystal and Larry Lamb share an unrelenting desire to entertain, whether performing music outside a juke joint, indulging amusement with graphic violence or delighting the British reading public with scandal and drama.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of delighting
Adjective
  • So when Billie and Issa get an actual offer for drinks with two firefighters who come to the house, Billie puts on a goofy British accent à la Issa and turns them down, choosing a quiet night at home with her friend instead.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • That was therapeutic for these professional dancers who got to be silly and goofy, but confidently.
    — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of goofy
Verb
  • Rather than playing as two traditional wingers, in this moment, both players were on the left flank.
    — Art de Roché, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Rumors have circulated that Stan may be playing Harvey Dent, the district attorney who eventually becomes the villainous Two-Face and was previously portrayed by Aaron Eckhart, Tommy Lee Jones, and Billy Dee Williams.
    — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of playing
Adjective
  • Months later, Thomas’ training camp performance is more than just a fun story.
    — Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • In recent years, however, Sachs has faced criticism that his studio was not so fun; in 2023, several former staffers accused him of fomenting a toxic and cultlike workplace.
    — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 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
  • Strand cautioned Owens that his lack of legal representation doesn’t shield him from future sanctions for making frivolous claims.
    — Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 9 Sep. 2026
  • You could be tempted to dismiss a creative venture or categorize a social invite as frivolous, all because there are more productive things to do.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of frivolous
Verb
  • In the mid-19th century, the question was of trifling interest to mapmakers, who had far more than four colors at their disposal and saw no particular reason to restrict their palette.
    — Gregory Barber, Quanta Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026
  • 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
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 15 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dabbling

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dabbling

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