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
Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2026
So the current $40 increase in oil could take around a percentage point off GDP – nothing to sneeze at, but not enough to make a serious dent.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2026
Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026
Nike’s recovery was already coming at a tough time as a global trade war dented its efforts to improve profitability and drive sales from inflation-weary shoppers.
—Gabrielle Fonrouge,jessica Golden,jacob Pramuk, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dent
Noun
According to the news outlet, setbacks in the engineering phase of the product might put a dent in the phone’s mass production and shipment schedule.
—Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2026
So the current $40 increase in oil could take around a percentage point off GDP – nothing to sneeze at, but not enough to make a serious dent.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
Being divisive hasn’t dented its sales numbers.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026
Nike’s recovery was already coming at a tough time as a global trade war dented its efforts to improve profitability and drive sales from inflation-weary shoppers.
—Gabrielle Fonrouge,jessica Golden,jacob Pramuk, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dent
Noun
-
Cut a piece of PVC piping slightly longer than the pot’s height, then drill holes 2 inches (5 centimeters) apart along its sides.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Residents in West Philadelphia are fed up with a massive hole in the middle of their street.—
Kerri Corrado,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The 5% decrease in electric charges is set to go into effect in June, with no future adjustments to it planned.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Even a relatively small decrease to $4 a gallon could take one or two weeks, according to gas price tracking service GasBuddy.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Global oil supply has reduced by 13%, according to the IMF, while severe damage has been done to other critical supply chains.—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
7 Apr. 2026
-
But government hunting programs and other efforts to reduce their numbers as the human population grew led to the local extinction, or extirpation, of the animals from California more than a century ago.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Guerrilla groups such as Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN), dissident FARC factions and Venezuelan criminal organizations operate across mining zones, frequently imposing taxes on miners and controlling pits through violence.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Because these pits are often discarded by food processing facilities and tend to cost less than raw nuts, some commercial producers use them to flavor their almond extract.—
Emily Saladino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The hotel has set waste and water reduction targets, including plastic and food waste prevention.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Pollution reduction, congestion reduction, improved safety, comfort, reliability.—
Jon Wertheim,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
When a microwave photon enters the cavity, and its energy matches the splitting of the quantum double dot, it is absorbed by the electron.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Apr. 2026
-
For example, a small cavity that needs a quick filling might cost $200.—
Tribune News Service,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The decibel scale is logarithmic, meaning every 10 dB drop roughly halves perceived loudness – so the gap between the P-12 Business and a conventional ferry isn't a marginal improvement.—
Omar Kardoudi
April 09,
New Atlas,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The first three months of the year saw disparate trends in violence within the Chicago Police Department’s five patrol areas, records show, with a mixed bag of increases and further drops.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Patrick De Haan, a petroleum expert at GasBuddy, said prices at the pump could start dropping as soon as this weekend, although the decline could initially amount to only a few cents per gallon.—
Marissa Sulek,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
While not endangered, American woodcocks have experienced a population decline in recent decades.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dent. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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