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 Goodhue, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, the Legislature continues to spend $100-billion-plus on a high-speed rail system that won’t make a dent in the climate problem.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
Kaya Genç, The Dial, 3 Feb. 2026
If a can is bulging, swollen, rusted or badly dented, throw it out.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dent
Noun
With temperatures expected to dip to lows not felt since 2010, state wildlife officials are seeing it as an opportunity to make a dent in the population of green iguanas, which are an invasive species that has flourished in Florida since being introduced decades ago through the pet trade.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, the Legislature continues to spend $100-billion-plus on a high-speed rail system that won’t make a dent in the climate problem.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
The main opposition party there, the CHP, was managing to dent Erdoğan’s popularity by triumphing in successive local elections.
—Kaya Genç, The Dial, 3 Feb. 2026
If a can is bulging, swollen, rusted or badly dented, throw it out.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dent
Noun
-
Will the loss or diminishment of newspapers leave a hole in society?—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Oval holes in the walls once held lamps to light the street after dark.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Bass and her campaign team have sought to highlight a list of accomplishments, including a steady decrease in homicides, a drop in street homelessness and her efforts to accelerate the construction of affordable housing.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
This was a decrease from a 2023 assessment.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Both coffee and tea contain bioactive ingredients such as polyphenols and caffeine, which may reduce inflammation and cellular damage while defending against cognitive decline.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Snowmaking specialist TechnoAlpin, which is supplying this year’s Winter Olympics, said technology has advanced significantly over recent decades, reducing energy demand and water consumption.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Could someone in the hot tub steal a glance at a guest in the sunken conversation pit?—
Hannah Martin,
Architectural Digest,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The fuel leak occurred when a fuel pit hydrant attached to a fuel system pipeline burst north of Terminal T at Hartsfield-Jackson, the EPA told outlets.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Most executive conversations about AI focus on risk, regulation, or cost reduction.—
David Heacock,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Improvements like reduction in poverty and crime come when households are stable and not deprived of basic necessities.—
Mansoor Shams,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
During fueling operations Monday afternoon, sensors recorded high concentrations of hydrogen in a cavity between the ground and rocket sides of the umbilical, forcing fueling to halt.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The wood chips created during excavation are used as nesting material in the bottom of the cavity.—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But gold prices have been extraordinary volatile, smashing through record highs before posting their biggest single-day drop on record last month.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Sharp drops hit Wall Street on Thursday as technology stocks fell and bitcoin plunged again to roughly half its record price set last fall.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The decline in future spending commitments is projected to lead to 670,000 and 1,600,000 lives lost annually.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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The cuts mark a steep decline for the historic newsroom, which has lost subscribers following controversial editorial decisions by owner Jeff Bezos.—
David Bauder,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dent. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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