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
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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
Lisa Kailai Han,pia Singh, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2025
All of these changes, while seemingly small in the cosmic scheme, can make a real dent in our environmental challenges.
—Allison Begalman, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
Fred Imbert, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2025
New tariffs, while sparking inflation and slowing growth, haven’t dented the wealthiest households as much as middle and lower income ones.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dent
Noun
Tech has been rocked recently as the White House's increasingly confrontational trade stance, particularly against China, dents sentiment on the sector.
—Lisa Kailai Han,pia Singh, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2025
All of these changes, while seemingly small in the cosmic scheme, can make a real dent in our environmental challenges.
—Allison Begalman, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
The recent policy signals out of the White House have dented the safe-haven status of U.S. Treasurys.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2025
New tariffs, while sparking inflation and slowing growth, haven’t dented the wealthiest households as much as middle and lower income ones.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dent
Noun
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The pots are thoughtfully designed with a drainage hole to avoid overwatering, enhance proper airflow, and keep your plants healthy.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
13 May 2025
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The screws may loosen and allow engine oil to leak from the screw holes, according to the recall report.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
13 May 2025
Noun
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That's a decrease of 41.50% over the course of a single business quarter.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
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Each percentage point decrease in a mortgage rate can save thousands or tens of thousands in additional cost each year, depending on the price of the house, according to Rocket Mortgage.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
8 May 2025
Verb
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An estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the proposals would reduce the number of people with health care by at least 7.6 million from the Medicaid changes, and possibly more with other changes to the Affordable Care Act.—
Kevin Freking,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2025
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In Sacramento, California, the weather service warned its office would have reduced staffing overnight.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
Noun
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Roast marshmallows with friends and family or keep things cozy during the evenings; ALDI’s outdoor fire pit is an easy solution.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2025
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Nearby, officers found human remains in a fire pit, officials said.—
Jennifer Rodriguez,
Kansas City Star,
6 May 2025
Noun
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Beijing will meet the U.S. reductions, dropping tariffs on U.S. goods to 10%.—
JJ Kinahan,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
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The bill earmarks a reduction of federal matching funds for Medicaid expansion populations, decreasing the current 90 percent federal contribution to the standard range of 50 to 83 percent.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 May 2025
Noun
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The bill passed on April 29 in the middle of Miami-Dade’s own fight over fluoridation of tap water, which the county has been doing since the 1950s as a way to reduce cavities and other dental issues.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2025
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And a city in Canada recently voted to add fluoride back into the drinking water after seeing that local second-graders had significantly higher rates of cavities than those in a neighboring city that fluoridated its water.—
Deidre McPhillips,
CNN Money,
7 May 2025
Noun
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Related Articles Overall sales were down 11 percent to $1.2 billion — which beat analyst expectations of a 12.4 percent drop.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
13 May 2025
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The latest drop channels that same buzzworthy energy, but this time with a tropical twist.—
Lauren Thomann,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 May 2025
Noun
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Ticket prices for sporting events plunged by 12.2%, the biggest monthly decline on record.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
14 May 2025
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And some experts worry that the recent decline could be slowed or stopped by reductions in federal funding and the public health workforce, or a shift away from the strategies that seem to be working.—
Geoff Mulvihill,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dent. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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