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
Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Nothing says organic grassroots legitimacy like billionaires dabbling in psychographic modeling.
—Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
Many of his cases involve wives who were not only unaware of their husband’s crypto dabbling, but when the assets are finally split, can be socked with a massive tax bill from capital gains.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 7 Dec. 2025
On their Instagram account, Rita, 82, can be seen rushing about the cloisters and dabbling in boxing lessons.
—Esme Nicholson, NPR, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dabbling
Verb
The global market capitalization of all coins has shed more than $2 trillion in that time, and fewer and fewer traders are dabbling in meme coins and derivatives.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Nothing says organic grassroots legitimacy like billionaires dabbling in psychographic modeling.
—Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
Many of his cases involve wives who were not only unaware of their husband’s crypto dabbling, but when the assets are finally split, can be socked with a massive tax bill from capital gains.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 7 Dec. 2025
On their Instagram account, Rita, 82, can be seen rushing about the cloisters and dabbling in boxing lessons.
—Esme Nicholson, NPR, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dabbling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dabbling
Adjective
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The yacht also has a flowing open-plan layout, with the aft doors opening to turn the separate salon and cockpit into one big indoor-outdoor entertaining area.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
9 Mar. 2026
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For those who teach their children about the Bible, this movie is a great way to introduce kids and tweens to the entertaining story of redemption and purpose.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Member’s Mark Coconut Cake has returned to the bakery just in time for Easter, delighting fans who eagerly await its annual appearance.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
9 Mar. 2026
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This same story of economic reinvigoration is playing out across the nation in dozens of rural counties that have embraced renewable energy projects, delighting taxpayers, enriching county coffers and making previously unaffordable public works projects possible.—
Sophie Hartley,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Plus, the movie is simply too goofy and good-natured for any of its feminist agitation to land.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
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As inherently goofy as the practice is—imagine Andy Reid pacing the sidelines in full shoulder-pads-and-helmet regalia, or Mike Brown rocking shorts and a tank top at the Garden—baseball would be diminished in some small way if the managers decided to start wearing street clothes.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Fellow City Section member Sylmar (24-12) is playing San Marin (21-13) for the Division V title at noon.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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Prior to the start of the current conflict, the IRGC was one of the most powerful organizations in the country, playing a dominant role in both internal domestic security and regional power projection.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Same fun format kids already love, just built on sourdough instead of white sandwich bread and served with a dip that adds protein rather than extra sugar.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
10 Mar. 2026
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That look from Skenes, who won the National League Cy Young Award last season, is what led to the creation of some fun memes.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Adjective
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Backers of historic cuts in property taxes for Florida homeowners call those kinds of predictions alarmist and say a drop in tax revenue will force local governments to cut back on high salaries, excessive hiring and frivolous spending.—
Douglas Hanks
March 13,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
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The Oscars were seen by Black audiences as frivolous, behind the times, and empty in the decades after, through 1996, when Reverend Jesse Jackson called for a protest of the Academy Awards, citing systemic racism at the institution’s core.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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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 14 Mar. 2026.
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