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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dent
Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 4 Jan. 2026
So being able to make a dent in those can be beneficial for recent grads.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 29 Dec. 2025
Jason Ma, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Her candor hasn’t been dented—this is a woman who clearly feels and cares deeply about the world.
—Helen Mirren, Glamour, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dent
Noun
Panamanian President Manuel Noriega was prosecuted and imprisoned by the United States for drug trafficking without making a dent in drug abuse deaths.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 4 Jan. 2026
So being able to make a dent in those can be beneficial for recent grads.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 29 Dec. 2025
Verb
In contrast, China’s hot stock market may dent gold’s attractiveness there.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Her candor hasn’t been dented—this is a woman who clearly feels and cares deeply about the world.
—Helen Mirren, Glamour, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dent
Noun
-
His absence left yet another hole in the quartet featuring him, Ball, Knueppel and Bridges.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Plunging directly in the frigid lake via holes carved in the ice.—
Julia Sayers Gokhale,
Midwest Living,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
If funding for health decreases by 20 percent, 12 million more children could die by 2045.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The south and southwest suburbs saw a 35% decrease in homicides in 2025 compared to 2024, according to tracking by the Daily Southtown, reflecting a continuing downward trend in recent years.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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During his January 2025 State of the State address, Little called for tax cuts that could reduce the state’s general fund by about $100 million.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Jan. 2026
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To reduce sizes, builders are going back to open floor plans with fewer hallways.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The buoyant spirit is also aided by Karla Grotting’s effervescent choreography, the Seuss-faithful designs of Tom Butsch and David Kay Mickelsen, and a nine-piece pit orchestra that enhances the moods with some effective musical underpinning beneath the dialogue.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
8 Nov. 2025
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The highest profile match-ups in the 94 categories — and the most anticipated by far — pit Beyonce, who has a field-leading 11 nominations against Swift, who has six.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The company strips out nonessential systems and designs each component around mass reduction.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
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On Wednesday, city leaders said the strategy has driven the recent crime reduction.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Christmas garlands, high heels, and even craft supplies have all found a home in the spacious cavity.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
7 Jan. 2026
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Plaque is the sticky film of germs that can cause cavities and make your breath smell bad.—
Linda Bartoshuk,
The Conversation,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Mix a combination of two teaspoons of cream of tartar and a few drops of lemon juice to form a paste.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
10 Jan. 2026
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Reformation Lluvia Dress As Reformation gears up for its 2026 collection drops, the store is marking down some of last year’s best-selling sweaters, dresses, shoes, and pants.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Wholesale market prices for milk, cheese and butter have been lower than normal for about a year, but had more of a significant decline in the past six months, Cain said.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
9 Jan. 2026
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Today, similar prudence animates concerns about NATO and broader trans-Atlantic ties in an era when Europe has undergone profound transformations through mass migration, supranational governance, demographic decline, and shifting cultural priorities.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dent. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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