DENTS Synonyms: 177 Similar and Opposite Words

dents 1 of 2

noun

plural of dent

as in holes

a sunken area forming a separate space there was a big dent in the car's hood where something had hit it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in reductions

the amount by which something is lessened a little belt-tightening would at least make a small dent in our credit-card debt

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dents

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of dent

as in reduces

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

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 dents

Noun

The engineers wrote their names using Sharpies on the places where robotic arms made dents in the vehicles. — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2026 Peel-and-stick tiles do not fare well in high-traffic or moisture-prone areas, and are prone to dents, scratches, discoloration, peeling, and shifting if the adhesive is damaged. — Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 19 Oct. 2026 Front and rear bumpers can be easily detached from bodywork to allow cheap replacement after low-speed dents. — New Atlas, 12 Oct. 2026 Companies like Flock allow users to conduct searches based on characteristics like vehicle make, model and color, as well as other distinctive vehicle features like dents and stickers. — Abigail Hall, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2026 When shopping for apples, choose fruits that are firm and free from bruises and dents. — Jillian Kubala, HEALTH, 18 Sep. 2026 Rust on two tomatillo sauce cans and rust with dents on five creamy mushroom sauce cans drew Stop Sales on all seven cans. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026 Law enforcement agencies have partnered with the company to speed up investigations by having access to a database that logs vehicle information like license plate, make, model, dents or modifications. — Irene Wright, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026 The iconic desert cruiser turns out to be just a chunk of rubber and metal with believable scratches and dents. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Verb

The shaky outing continued Sasaki’s post-breakthrough slide, but the setback barely dents the Dodgers’ commanding division cushion, with San Diego still eight games back in the standings. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026 No quantity of houses or yachts dents it. — Douglas P. McCormick, Fortune, 23 June 2026 What happened next haunts the dreams, dents the bravura of every New Yorker. — David Remnick, New Yorker, 11 June 2026 The growth further dents the case for an interest rate cut, as US monetary policymakers discuss possibly raising the cost of borrowing. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 2 June 2026 Which is harder — landing a human on the moon or hitting a home run that dents the top of a foul pole in a major-league game? — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 8 May 2026 The Lakers, like the Celtics, are tenants in their arena, which dents their ability to drive revenue from concerts and other events. — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025 Whether this latest controversy dents MrBeast's online empire or prompts wider scrutiny of influencer accountability remains to be seen. — Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025 For example, if a falling tree branch breaks your windshield or hail dents your car, comprehensive coverage can pay for repairs. — Brandi D. Addison, jsonline.com, 11 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dents

Noun

But Colasante kept targeting him, and eventually the short passing game opened up some big holes for junior running back Jayke Collins, who rushed 20 times for 198 yards, including touchdown runs of 55 yards and 20 yards.

— Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
The common octopus is a generalist predator in coastal waters, particularly around rocky shores, where there are many holes to squeeze through, Kuba said.

— Reuters, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of holes

Noun

The labor force had been shrinking, the result of demographic changes and immigration reductions, but expanded by 421,000 in October.

— Jeff Cox, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
For decades, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other ozone-depleting compounds were widely used in aerosol sprays, foams, air conditioners, and refrigerators, causing significant reductions in ozone levels.

— Dan Peck, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of reductions

Verb

This reduces the computing work required to serve identical repository data repeatedly.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
The iron in lentils can help maintain healthy energy levels by being a component of hemoglobin in red blood cells, which delivers oxygen throughout the body and reduces fatigue.

— Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of reduces

Noun

The most prominent contest pits Ted Gaines against Gina Posey for the open 4th District seat on the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026
This reaction converts the silicon into soluble silicates, leaving behind tiny pits across the surface.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of pits

Noun

Nor does improved plaque or reduced bleeding mean users will develop fewer cavities or avoid periodontitis in the coming years.

— Mike McRae, New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2026
Tenuta says over time, that process sets the stage for tooth decay, often referred to as caries, or eventually cavities (a hole in a tooth that comes from this decay).

— Rachel Carlson, NPR, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of cavities

Noun

Using the textured side of a meat mallet, gently pound the meat until it’s slightly flattened, creating indentations all over the surface.

— Natalia Vela, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2026
Some have indentations meant to gather rainwater, and some have multiple points of entry and egress, all of which the rats apparently appreciate.

— Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 20 Aug. 2026