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
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
-
The battle for the fifth starter position in spring may be the most entertaining in camp — with Lowder, Burns, Petty and Williamson attempting to crack the rotation.—
C. Trent Rosecrans,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The kitchen also has direct access to a large rear deck, which enhances the outdoor living and entertaining options during pleasant weather.—
James Alexander,
Hartford Courant,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The legendary basketball squad, which was founded in 1926, has been delighting sports fans and families now for a full century.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Madigan's character, the elderly aunt of several of the students, became a cult favorite, both terrifying and delighting audiences.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Norman spoke with Mixed Asian Media about her role in the show and how playing a hard-working ballet dancer compared to her real-life goofier and more extroverted personality.—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Ross was fairly goofy in his courtships of coaches Jim Harbaugh and Sean Payton and quarterback Tom Brady.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The teen was playing basketball at the park when he was approached by a group of young adults, who asked the teen if he was affiliated with a gang and tried to start a fight, police said.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Guys were playing hard, everybody on that drive was doing their job, and getting guys down on the ground.—
Mike Kaye
Updated January 11,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
To tie it all together, throw in a fun statement bag to add a pop of color to an otherwise neutral outfit.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
-
North Texas is both everything that makes college football so irresistibly fun and appealing, while also serving as the worst example of the current model.—
Mac Engel
January 9,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Flirting feels fun, not frivolous, and your heart knows exactly when to lean in.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The predictive duel for Best Picture The Globes are regarded by some as a frivolous event in which celebrities care less about the awards and more about the drinks at their tables.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
10 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
-
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 13 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share