1
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
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of dents
Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Avoid cans that have dents or lid damage, as this can increase the risk of bacteria that cause botulism (a form of food poisoning).
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 1 May 2026
Smooth Dents and Remove Stains from Wood Wooden floors and tables can be extremely prone to dents, nicks, and stains, but an iron can be a surprisingly effective way to clear off water stains and smooth out dents.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 23 Apr. 2026
Check your propane level and inspect the tank for any visible dents or damage if using a gas grill.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026
Protective bumpers on the front and back help guard against scratches and dents, while four smooth-rolling wheels keep things moving effortlessly through crowded terminals.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2026
Inspectors will seek out all sidewalk cracks that are at least half an inch tall or more than an inch wide and all dents and defects that are two inches wide and one inch deep, according to the staff report.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 7 Apr. 2026
After two of my three test trips, small dents had appeared in the shell.
—Charley Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026
When golf-ball-sized hail and 60 mph winds slammed the east coast of Florida in May, Chris Jadin came home to a truck covered in dents and glass all over the floor of his house, his skylight shattered by the falling ice.
—Scott Pham, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Jayson Stark, New York Times, 8 May 2026
The richest man alive, Elon Musk, has countered that taxing every billionaire at 100% barely dents the $39 trillion national debt.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 30 Mar. 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
Noun
In 2024, for instance, NASA shared an image of the abuse one of Curiosity's wheels withstood on Mars, including dents and holes.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Avoid cans that have dents or lid damage, as this can increase the risk of bacteria that cause botulism (a form of food poisoning).
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 1 May 2026
Smooth Dents and Remove Stains from Wood Wooden floors and tables can be extremely prone to dents, nicks, and stains, but an iron can be a surprisingly effective way to clear off water stains and smooth out dents.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 23 Apr. 2026
Check your propane level and inspect the tank for any visible dents or damage if using a gas grill.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026
Protective bumpers on the front and back help guard against scratches and dents, while four smooth-rolling wheels keep things moving effortlessly through crowded terminals.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2026
Inspectors will seek out all sidewalk cracks that are at least half an inch tall or more than an inch wide and all dents and defects that are two inches wide and one inch deep, according to the staff report.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 7 Apr. 2026
After two of my three test trips, small dents had appeared in the shell.
—Charley Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026
When golf-ball-sized hail and 60 mph winds slammed the east coast of Florida in May, Chris Jadin came home to a truck covered in dents and glass all over the floor of his house, his skylight shattered by the falling ice.
—Scott Pham, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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 richest man alive, Elon Musk, has countered that taxing every billionaire at 100% barely dents the $39 trillion national debt.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 30 Mar. 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
-
That alone changes the math — his cardio dropoff against Strickland was directly tied to the weight cut, and removing that variable fixes one of the only real holes in his game.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
-
Bullet holes could be seen in the back door of one of the homes.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, but the plea agreement says the government will recommend level reductions in the sentencing guidelines.—
Andrew Blankstein,
NBC news,
12 May 2026
-
And their representatives on Monday did not rule out coming back to the city to ask for additional reductions as the work advances.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
The system enables closed-loop recycling, which extends material life cycles and reduces cotton emissions and pollution.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
-
Oatmeal's beta-glucan fiber helps curb hunger, supports weight loss, and reduces harmful visceral fat.—
Colleen Doherty,
Verywell Health,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The Yakima taproom sits right on one of them, the Loftus Ranches in Moxee, and features 16 taps inside, plus seating, fire pits, food trucks, and lawn games outside.—
Vivian Chung,
Travel + Leisure,
14 May 2026
-
Give watermelons an extra boost of nutrients by creating melon pits instead of hills and planting seeds directly in the pits.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
After two years of aggressive decreases in auto theft rates, every tool needs to be used to return to that trend.—
Ubah Ali,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
-
Carroll Rivas added that decreases of nonviolent incidents in the audit appear in part attributed to fewer in-person events, leaflet or flyer distributions or other gatherings, particularly among white nationalists and neo-Nazis.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
The light triggered a chemical rearrangement inside the crystal, reshaping its internal architecture and creating tiny cavities capable of trapping water molecules from the air.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
12 May 2026
-
Brilliant knots of newborn stars, dark rivers of dust and glowing cavities carved by stellar winds combine to create a vivid portrait of galaxies in constant motion.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Silver plays two roles — as a store of value and a raw material for industry — which can mean bigger gains when the economy is growing but sharper drops during downturns.—
Sharon Wu,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
-
Add a few drops of mild detergent to warm water and blot the stain with a microfiber cloth rather than scrubbing it.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Overnight, indentations in the tarmac had been filled with sand, to ease the passing of the royal carriages.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
Make four small indentations in vegetable mixture.—
Maddy Bendgen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dents. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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