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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dent
Adam Summers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2026
Under Mayor Michael Johnston, Denver has done better at providing shelter to people living on the street, has made a serious dent in crime, and is speeding up approval times for developments, Walker said.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 18 May 2026
James Horncastle, New York Times, 25 May 2026
The war has dented these pillars.
—Daniel Benaim, Time, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dent
Noun
San Francisco currently spends about $700 million to $800 million per year on homelessness, aided by the passage in 2018 of the Proposition C gross receipts tax on businesses with annual revenue greater than $50 million, but has yet to make a dent in its intractable homelessness problem.
—Adam Summers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2026
Under Mayor Michael Johnston, Denver has done better at providing shelter to people living on the street, has made a serious dent in crime, and is speeding up approval times for developments, Walker said.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 18 May 2026
Verb
The club had been a firm contender in the Scudetto race, but a mid-season collapse dented their hopes.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 25 May 2026
The war has dented these pillars.
—Daniel Benaim, Time, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dent
Noun
-
Fox hit big shots late as the Spurs avoided falling into a 3-0 hole, which no NBA team has escaped.—
Brian Mahoney,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
-
Whenever your outfit feels a little plain, these goodies will inject some welcome personality—all without blowing a hole in your budget.—
Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
In reaction to pay decreases and general concerns around the cost of living, SEIU Local 1000 has sought legislative and contract relief in the form of a 20% wage increase from 2026 to 2028.—
Evelyn Ronan,
Sacbee.com,
11 June 2026
-
The dish detergent decreases while combining water and rubbing alcohol, leaving a streak-free shine.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Before long, the living room is reduced to a bare stage, upon which only a couple of pulleys and switches are visible.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
Each ergonomic Nuage seat fully reclines to improve circulation and reduce back pressure.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
The guiding image of my process was not an outline, but the ball pit found at indoor playgrounds, beloved by children and feared by adults who carry hand sanitizer just for such activities.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
-
This was once the site of the deepest pit in the world.—
Michael Walker,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Months later, after Measure PP’s failure, the council approved over $12 million in budget reductions, which included cuts to the library, parks maintenance staff, and crossing guards.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
7 June 2026
-
This reduction in size and mass makes the architecture especially attractive for electric vehicle applications, where drivetrain compactness is a critical design constraint.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
Back home, doctors noted a deep cavity had formed.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
9 June 2026
-
The process begins with a femtosecond laser cutting GaN dielets from a wafer and drilling precise cavities into the diamond substrate.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Submissions for variety special (pre-recorded) tumbled to 66 from 89, a 23-title plunge that accounts for roughly half the year’s overall drop.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
12 June 2026
-
Combine 2 cups of water, 1 teaspoon of liquid soap, 10 drops of peppermint oil, and 10 drops of garlic extract in a spray bottle and shake well.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Tending to Barbara in her days of decline is her child, a trans man, who Barbara refers to as her daughter throughout.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
The decline suggests a blow to small businesses that can’t afford the fee, but previously benefited from the visa program.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dent. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
