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
Erica Sloan, SELF, 29 Aug. 2025
If credit cards have a high interest rate, that can also be a barrier to paying back the credit card—and if good credit can help someone buy a home, a high debt-to-income ratio will make a dent in your efforts.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 27 Aug. 2025
Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Sustained tariffs at this rate could dent India's growing appeal as an alternative manufacturing hub to China for goods such as smartphones and electronics.
—David Lawder, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dent
Noun
But this time, antibiotics didn’t put a dent in her symptoms.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 29 Aug. 2025
If credit cards have a high interest rate, that can also be a barrier to paying back the credit card—and if good credit can help someone buy a home, a high debt-to-income ratio will make a dent in your efforts.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
Starship — the world’s largest and most powerful rocket — had seen several prior efforts end unsuccessfully, which also dented SpaceX boss Elon Musk’s ambitions to eventually use it for reusable transport to Mars.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Sustained tariffs at this rate could dent India's growing appeal as an alternative manufacturing hub to China for goods such as smartphones and electronics.
—David Lawder, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dent
Noun
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As the Republican candidate stood on the fifth-hole putting green, a Secret Service agent was riding a golf cart in a security sweep of the sixth hole and noticed someone hiding behind a chain-link fence in the southeast corner of the course.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
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Untangle the roots and spread them out in their planting holes.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Prices across Louisville have generally followed the national trend, showing significant decreases from their peak in the first quarter of 2025.—
Olivia Evans,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Sep. 2025
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While pedestrian deaths in Mesa and Phoenix have increased since 2019, Tucson saw a slight decrease in fatalities.—
Sasha Hupka,
AZCentral.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Made with prebiotic oat to soothe irritation and support the skin barrier, the gentle cream also has feverfew extract, which is packed with antioxidants that reduce redness and further calm irritation.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
4 Sep. 2025
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Funding used in high school for more than 29 credit hours will reduce scholarship eligibility after high school by one year, and more than 59 credit hours will reduce eligibility by two years.—
Edward McKinnon,
Arkansas Online,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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More David Cannon/Getty Images The Walker Cup pits teams comprised of the top 10 male amateur players from the United States and Great Britain and Ireland against each other.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Sep. 2025
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Trimeresurus nujiang, also known as the Nujiang green pit-viper, is a new arboreal, or tree-dwelling, snake species known only from the high-altitude evergreen forests that border the canyon in Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, according to the study.—
Lauren Liebhaber
September 2,
Miami Herald,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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While sustainable aviation fuels and electric aircraft will play larger roles in long-term decarbonization, immediate weight reduction offers airlines tangible benefits today.—
Karl Moore,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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The scale of the revision announced on Tuesday exceeds a downward reduction in hiring estimates last year that has drawn criticism from Trump in recent weeks.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Schumann Resonance Time Acceleration Schumann resonances are natural, low-frequency electromagnetic hums that form in the cavity between Earth’s surface and the ionosphere (50-600 miles above the surface).—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Sep. 2025
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In addition to maintaining good oral hygiene habits at home, such as brushing and flossing, experts recommend tactics like drinking plenty of water, limiting snacks and sugary foods, and quitting smoking to help prevent cavities.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Sabalenka, who has the much greater variety of the two players, started to bring the drop shot into play.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
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Ultimately, costly mistakes — a Miles Sanders red zone fumble in the third quarter and three drops from CeeDee Lamb in the fourth quarter — gave the Eagles a slim 24-20 victory.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Paluel faced similar power declines in 2016 when a steam generator weighing more than 450 tons collapsed while being moved, causing the plant to be shut down before coming back online a year later.—
Theo Burman
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
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The world is also facing exponential declines in biodiversity, primarily among insects.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dent. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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