1
as in hole
a sunken area forming a separate space
there was a big dent in the car's hood where something had hit it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decrease
the amount by which something is lessened
a little belt-tightening would at least make a small dent in our credit-card debt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to reduce
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent
hopefully this vacation won't dent our bank account too much
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dent
David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
Ideal for dressers, doors, desks, and even hardwood floors, the kit includes six markers for surface-level touchups in shades like cherry, walnut, and mahogany, plus six wax sticks to fill deeper dents and gouges.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 May 2026
Mia Glass, Bloomberg, 10 June 2026
The artifacts, however, remained missing until April, when two of the three men surrendered the helmet—slightly dented—and two of the bracelets as part of a plea agreement.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dent
Noun
More than 200 people have been killed in the strikes, but as The New York Times reported a few days ago, the campaign has made no dent in the cocaine trade to the United States.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
Ideal for dressers, doors, desks, and even hardwood floors, the kit includes six markers for surface-level touchups in shades like cherry, walnut, and mahogany, plus six wax sticks to fill deeper dents and gouges.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 May 2026
Verb
Japan’s 30-year government bond auction drew the weakest demand since June 2025 as a decline in yields dented investor appetite, with concerns over inflation and fiscal policy weighing on sentiment.
—Mia Glass, Bloomberg, 10 June 2026
The artifacts, however, remained missing until April, when two of the three men surrendered the helmet—slightly dented—and two of the bracelets as part of a plea agreement.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dent
Noun
-
Options for family fun range from tennis and pickleball courts, croquet lawns, and two 18-hole golf courses to a seasonal outdoor pool with a waterslide and splash pad.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
-
The Braves’ hot start has covered over some holes.—
Jim Bowden,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Even when those withdrawals are planned, seeing balances decrease can feel unsettling.—
Andrew Rosen,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
There are contact tracing efforts in place, but Congo reported a decrease in reporting coverage last week due to the expansion of the outbreak into new areas, and to community resistance.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
The coronavirus vaccine reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events linked to covid-19 — strokes, heart attacks, and hospitalization from heart disease — by about 40 percent, according to a new study.—
Daniel Wu,
Washington Post,
16 June 2026
-
Fox would take on $8 million in debt to pay for the Roku acquisition, and the companies expect to reduce combined expenses by $400 million.—
Scharon Harding,
ArsTechnica,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
As the first practice session kicks off, I am hosted by Aston Martin in their Loges VIP suite, which gives select guests a view of the garages, pit lane, and track.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
12 June 2026
-
Their pit was literally right out front.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
This is a crisis that cannot be ignored, especially with school-age children now in summer vacation, which means even further reductions in access to healthy foods.—
Michael Farver,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
-
Because these specific phases normally represent one-quarter of total cell manufacturing expenditures, their reduction alters the overall processing economics.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
What was left showed a cavity about 3 light-years long and with an opening angle of 45 degrees, leading back to the black hole itself.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
16 June 2026
-
Some pine tree-nesting birds have been known to peck the tree trunk around the nest cavity so the sap will run down and protect the babies from climbing snakes.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Mix one drop of castile soap with 16 ounces of warm water in a spray bottle.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
18 June 2026
-
Retailers face challenges from SNAP cuts and consumer fatigue, needing to demonstrate value as price drops will be delayed for months.—
Phil Lempert,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Noun
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The findings indicate that bird-watching and similar hobbies may support overall brain health, though researchers stop short of saying the activity definitively halts cognitive decline.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
-
Earlier this year, a judge ordered the Bureau of Land Management to close roughly 2,000 miles of off highway vehicle trails in the western Mojave to reduce ongoing harm to the endangered desert tortoise, a keystone species of the local ecosystem whose numbers are in steep decline.—
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dent. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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