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
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2026
Beater bars can be too harsh for wood flooring and cause surface scratches, while some vacuum wheels can cause dents due to their weight.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 21 Feb. 2026
Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 24 Feb. 2026
The profit figure was dented by a $718 million hit to the value of the company's crypto asset portfolio.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dent
Noun
The material can oxidize, dent, and corrode if the coating is damaged.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2026
Beater bars can be too harsh for wood flooring and cause surface scratches, while some vacuum wheels can cause dents due to their weight.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
The business was dented primarily by declines in spending in the group’s China and travel-retail activity, especially in the first half of 2025.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 24 Feb. 2026
The profit figure was dented by a $718 million hit to the value of the company's crypto asset portfolio.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dent
Noun
-
Congress and the White House are digging a deep, deep hole for our children.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Video from the scene showed multiple bullet holes in a car windshield.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Interviewed before the store closing, chief executive officer Tres Lund said last year that an increase in store security expenses and decrease in customer visits had left operating costs outpacing sales.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
26 Feb. 2026
-
In December, city staff requested an end to meeting room reservations for outside organizations due to concerns over security, a decrease in room bookings, and billing and reservation system challenges.—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Its hypergolic propellant allows the missile to remain fueled for extended periods, reducing launch prep to minutes.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Mar. 2026
-
For inmates already on a hormone-replacement regimen, BOP will consider placing them on a taper plan that gradually reduces their dosage at a safe withdrawal pace.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
With almost no ambient light, nights are really dark, and when clear, the skies are studded with stars; on cold nights, giant fire pits on the patio keep you warm while stargazing.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Feb. 2026
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Being a toddler parent often means that your weekends are a constant rotation of kids’ birthday parties, but there are worse ways to spend your time than sipping a soda while your kids tackle each other in a ball pit.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
No one religious or spiritual practice appeared to be more protective against addiction, but the risk reduction was higher for people who regularly engaged in a spiritual or religious community, defined as weekly attendance at a religious service.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Eco effort Loews Kansas City participates in company-wide sustainability initiatives, including broad platforms focused on energy efficiency, waste reduction, and responsible sourcing.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
More than half of children 6 to 8 years old have had a cavity in at least one of their baby teeth, and more than half of teens ages 12 to 19 have had a cavity in at least one of their permanent teeth, the health department said.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Many of its technologies, such as superconducting crab cavities, crystal collimators and high-temperature superconducting power lines, have never been used in a proton accelerator before.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The night started with the Florida Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk and Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews at center ice, set to take an honorary puck drop from Panthers president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Zito and head equipment manager Teddy Richards.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
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The kick would be a field goal place kick with a holder or a drop kick from the spot where the returner caught the ball.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Conte was a bad fit from the start and played a small part in their decline.—
Dan Kilpatrick,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The refusal to engage with the media contrasts Davis’ predecessors and contributes to a sharp decline in transparency at the Forty Acres, which also lost its faculty senate, a long-standing public forum that allowed faculty to question the president directly.—
Lily Kepner,
Austin American Statesman,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dent. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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