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
The final version mostly holds itself together, though the front bezel requires either some electrical tape or a couple dabs of superglue to stay attached. — Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 23 July 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dabs
  1. jabs
  2. splashes
  3. swipes
  4. experts
  5. smears
  6. taps
  7. punches
  8. sprinklings
Noun
  • Perhaps that’s the biggest compliment for UCLA, going from being ignored or laughed at to taking a few jabs over your glowing reviews.
    — Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2026
  • At this point, the owners and the union are merely sparring, lobbing jabs back and forth without really engaging in true hand-to-hand combat.
    — Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of jabs
Noun
  • Thoughtful splashes of color are fine tuned throughout the space, like sunny yellow cabinetry livening up the kitchen and window sills sporting a punchy shade of green.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 23 July 2026
  • Four-poster beds and traditional wicker and mahogany interiors preserve the building’s original beauty, while splashes of color in the artwork and brightly hued soft furnishings add character.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026
Definition of splashes
Noun
  • Think of it like a team of pickpockets, one of which walks up to ask you for directions while the other swipes your wallet.
    — Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 10 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of swipes
Noun
  • Looking ahead Audemard, the retired geologist who warned about a large-scale earthquake for years, said the experts’ recommendations need to be reflected in laws and building codes.
    — Syra Ortiz-Blanes, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
  • Whether discovering familyrun wineries, exploring historic neighborhoods with local experts, or simply lingering over lunch in a quiet piazza, travelers have the freedom to engage with each destination at their own pace.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 24 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
  • That effort taps Framatome’s existing Nuclear Regulatory Commission license to streamline the regulatory transition from fuel fabrication to commercial shipment.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 23 July 2026
  • The camera is in position to see Cena’s sly smile and taps on Gunther’s forearm just so.
    — Darren Cooper, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of taps
Noun
  • With Gable and Rusev left standing, the two went back and forth with punches.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • New York Yankees shortstop José Caballero was at the center of a tense scene on Monday night — one in which benches cleared, words were exchanged, but no punches were thrown.
    — Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 21 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 29 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of dabs for Spanish Speakers

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