Synonyms of dent

dent 1 of 2

noun

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

• hole
• pit
• cavity
• dint
• furrow
• indentation
• hollow
• concavity
• depression
• ditch
• recess
• impression
• bowl
• valley
• pocket
• trench
• cave
• excavation
• groove
• burrow
• indenture
• basin
• gouge
• crater
• gutter
• cavern
• dimple
• opening
• socket
• alcove
• imprint
• trough
• cleft
• vacuum
• nook
• niche
• pothole
• water hole
• notch
• chasm
• void
• well
• abyss
• alveolus
• borehole
• sinkhole
• wallow
• vacuity
• gulf
• posthole
• chuckhole

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• projection
• bulge
• protrusion
• rise
• convexity
• camber
• hill
• protuberance
• mound
• tumor
• swelling
• jut
• bump
• swell
• lump
• hump
• bunch
• pimple

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

• decrease
• reduction
• drop
• decline
• shrinkage
• diminution
• loss
• slump
• decrement
• depletion
• depression
• fall
• falloff
• abatement
• diminishment
• drop-off
• cut
• downturn
• step-down
• deduction
• slip
• subtraction
• cutback
• curtailment
• retrenchment
• shortening

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increase
• rise
• boost
• gain
• raise
• increment
• enlargement
• addition
• accumulation
• uptick
• supplement
• extension
• accretion
• continuation
• step-up
• accrual
• upturn
• upswing
• uptrend

dent

2 of 2

verb

ˈdent 

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

• reduce
• decrease
• lower
• deplete
• diminish
• ease
• lessen
• minimize
• cut
• slash
• abate
• downsize
• dwindle
• drop
• knock down
• pare
• compress
• shrink
• downscale
• curtail
• trim
• whittle
• crop
• cut down
• nick
• retrench
• cut back
• dock
• constrict
• condense
• de-escalate
• shorten
• truncate
• deflate
• abridge
• prune
• clip
• contract
• modify
• moderate
• modulate
• qualify
• abbreviate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increase
• expand
• raise
• boost
• augment
• enlarge
• amplify
• swell
• escalate
• inflate
• extend
• prolong
• add (to)
• blow up
• dilate
• elongate
• lengthen
• aggrandize
• supplement
• enhance
• complement
• distend
• intensify
• heighten
• protract
• redouble

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of dent

Noun

Address dents, holes, and scratches before priming; paint will not hide major surface defects. — Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Aug. 2026

Tracks Check that the tracks on both sides of the door are properly aligned and free of dents or debris. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026

Verb

The detention of Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu on Thursday risks clouding Lusaka’s credentials as a relatively stable southern African democracy and denting investor confidence in Africa’s second-largest copper producer. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026

The facility had dented cans of olives, tomato sauce and artichokes. — Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026