dabs 1 of 3

noun (1)

plural of dab
1
as in jabs
a quick thrust one more quick dab of the brush and he would be finished with his painting

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in splashes
a very small amount she added a dab of sesame oil to the dressing before pouring it on the salad

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in swipes
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument a bear can knock a man down with a simple dab of his paw

Synonyms & Similar Words

dabs

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural of dab, chiefly British
as in experts
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field a dab at finding unappreciated collectibles and reselling them at a considerable profit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dabs

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of dab
1
as in smears

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
2
as in taps

Related 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 dabs
Noun
Every page had its own illustration in an airy line-drawing style, with dabs of pastel color. — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 24 June 2026 The component parts include herself, a fashionable, high-ish brow, and maybe trashy auteur (Abel Ferrara, Olivier Assayas, Catherine Breillat, her own dad), a strong genre element, and dabs of very deliberate provocation. — David Katz, IndieWire, 20 May 2026 Tokyo Stylez, Cardi’s hairstylist, brushes out a sleek brown hairpiece, and Erika la’ pearl, her makeup artist, dabs at Cardi’s face while the rapper scrolls through her phone, controlling the music. — Jazmine Hughes, Allure, 24 Mar. 2026 Among the other standouts are Klimt’s Blooming Meadow (1908)—a sea of green grass and trees flecked with blue, yellow, and pink dabs of wildflowers—and six figurative bronzes by Matisse. — Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 26 Oct. 2025 The 132 rooms have welcome dabs of color—royal blue desk chairs and headboards and pink and white curtains. — Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 26 Sep. 2025 The venue hosts fun and educational events, such as crafting and game nights, where attendees can smoke vapes, eat edibles and do dabs. — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2025 Its gifts today are beautification, recreation, shade, cleaner air and water, walking and biking paths, dabs of nature in the city, the enchanting sound of falling water, programs and events, and art. — Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025 The only thing missing is a few dabs of the extra-potent salsa made with chile Yahualica. — Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Oct. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dabs
  1. jabs
  2. splashes
  3. swipes
  4. experts
  5. smears
  6. taps
  7. punches
  8. sprinklings
Noun
  • If Clase’s home run in the second was an uppercut, then Toronto’s offense in the third was a barrage of jabs.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 8 July 2026
  • And a third key was for Gaethje to throw jabs and get Topuria’s weight on his back foot, so Gaethje could find an opening with hooks over Topuria’s front shoulder.
    — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 6 July 2026
Definition of jabs
Noun
  • Foundational elements include references to classic design codes with splashes of color.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 8 July 2026
  • Waterproof surfaces like quartz or marble handle spills and splashes without staining.
    — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of splashes
Noun
  • Make careful vertical swipes, run the vegetable peeler down the sides of the fruit, following its curves to trim closely between the skin and the flesh.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2026
  • Wipe in circular motions with a lint-free microfiber cloth to loosen grime, then finish with long, horizontal swipes.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 2 July 2026
Definition of swipes
Noun
  • But critics say that if the rule is implemented, the final sign-off for grants will no longer be in the hands of subject-matter experts within individual agencies, but in those of political appointees.
    — Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • Justin Baldoni broke months of silence about his mutually destructive legal battle with fellow actor Blake Lively, hoping to sway the court of public opinion — but drawing a mixed verdict from public relations experts.
    — David K. Li, NBC news, 9 July 2026
Definition of experts
Verb
  • In other words, the show is a celebration of America’s 250th birthday, but one that smears a little cake on the country’s face.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 27 June 2026
  • This chilling, starkly beautiful ambient piece draws Nebraska’s marginal whispers to the forefront and smears them across the picture plane.
    — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 10 Mar. 2026
Definition of smears
Verb
  • Just when things were drifting towards extra-time, Senne Lammens drops a clanger in the Belgium goal and Mikel Merino taps in from close range to give Spain a 2-1 lead.
    — Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 10 July 2026
  • Kandi Burruss of The Real Housewives of Atlanta makes a cameo in the show’s final season to play Miss Jay, an investor Mavis taps to help fund a new blazer design.
    — Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
Definition of taps
Noun
  • The poster also alleged Martinez was the one acting racist and had thrown the spice tajín in her face before any punches were thrown.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Members of Rita's loyalty program who use the Rita’s Ice app will get double loyalty punches with a purchase of the treat.
    — Mike Snider, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Definition of punches
Noun
  • My grandmother’s version typically called just for the addition of generous sprinklings of Lawry’s garlic salt and black pepper—and that’s it.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
Definition of sprinklings

Browse Nearby Words

dab hands
dabs
dacha
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Cite this Entry

“Dabs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dabs. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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