1
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
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dabs
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
Noun
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
Noun
-
The two took jabs at one another across various media platforms, including television, X (formerly Twitter), and Twitch.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
25 May 2026
-
In addition to several jabs at Paramount and CBS, Colbert promoted some of Monroe Community Media’s recent coverage.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
The locks are designed for outdoor installations too, with an IP65 weather resistance rating for protection against rain, splashes and dust.—
Paul Lamkin,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
Try your coffee warm or iced, with some cinnamon and a few splashes of unsweetened almond milk.—
Karen Berger,
Verywell Health,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Maxwell Bowman’s projection and video design are sharply on point, with clean and clear swipes and transitions that are the lifeblood of any live production.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
Take a clean, dry microfiber cloth and wipe down the shower tiles, working in long swipes.—
Maria Sabella,
The Spruce,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
That stockpile, deep below the surface, is unlikely to have sustained much damage from strikes at ground level, according to the experts, especially given that the Israeli military struck tunnel entrances in the same manner during the Twelve-Day War last year.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
-
With that in mind, the other major variable each year is seasonal conditions, and experts agree that 2023 was as perfect a season as nature can offer.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The five pieces offer, in turn, biomorphic hints of de Kooning, the ragged shapes of Clyfford Still, the bold geometries of Ellsworth Kelly, the paint smears of Gerhard Richter, and something that looks like toothpaste squeezed onto an orange peel.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
22 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
This edit taps directly into the Korean skincare influence currently shaping Western beauty routines, with an unusually high number of full-sized products that make the purchase feel substantial rather than sample-led.—
Kate Hardcastle,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
The feature taps world knowledge and your listening history to deliver a personalized audio output.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
Rhodes peppered Gunther with punches, a bionic elbow and a Pedigree for a nearfall.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
Stockstill was throwing punches, but not connecting.—
Mara H. Gottfried,
Twin Cities,
29 May 2026
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,
5 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dabs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dabs. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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