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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dents
Dan Simms, USA Today, 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
Fill in any deeper scratches or dents with a wax wood repair kit to match.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
Uneven tire wear, low tire pressure, sidewall bulges or blisters and dents in wheel rims.
—Jim Gorzelany, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
One of these conditions involves any severe corrosion, dents, or cracks in the pipes.
—Molly McCrea, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026
Anyway, dents are coming for the Patriots next year when their road will get much rockier, and all of this schedule conversation will inevitably subside.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 7 Dec. 2025
Keep yours protected from scratches and dents with this leather zip case.
—Michelle Baricevic, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 2025
Additionally, because it’s made from stainless steel, this tumbler is resistant to dents and drops.
—Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025
Max Bultman, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
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
This can include scratches, dents, chipped paint and even mismatched units if your warranty coverage leads to a replacement that doesn’t match your other appliances.
—Dan Simms, USA Today, 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
Fill in any deeper scratches or dents with a wax wood repair kit to match.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
Uneven tire wear, low tire pressure, sidewall bulges or blisters and dents in wheel rims.
—Jim Gorzelany, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
One of these conditions involves any severe corrosion, dents, or cracks in the pipes.
—Molly McCrea, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026
Anyway, dents are coming for the Patriots next year when their road will get much rockier, and all of this schedule conversation will inevitably subside.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 7 Dec. 2025
Keep yours protected from scratches and dents with this leather zip case.
—Michelle Baricevic, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 2025
Additionally, because it’s made from stainless steel, this tumbler is resistant to dents and drops.
—Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025
Verb
The Red Wings’ penalty kill has been better on the whole this season, though an 0-for-3 showing certainly dents their numbers and drops them to 80 percent on the season.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
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
-
The peak of this dome occurred when the Hall coefficient changed sign, indicating that the dominant charge carriers switched from holes to electrons.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
-
One of those holes is the WNBA’s low pay, which forced players to supplement their income by playing overseas when the league was not in season.—
J.J. Bailey,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The changes were slight — reductions of just one-tenth of a second and one-half of a mile to a solar lap spanning two years and hundreds of millions of miles, according to the scientists.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Economic planners singled out steelmaking and oil refining at the opening of the national legislative session on Thursday with promises of orderly reductions in capacity.—
Bloomberg News,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This is a time of giving and getting support, because practical care reduces friction.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The revolutionary pharoah builds a great city and reduces spiritual chaos by focusing on a single-minded form of worship.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Wayfair also carries plenty of woodburning fire pits made out of steel, many with intricate designs.—
Daniel Modlin,
Architectural Digest,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Not all pads are alike, but a footprint on the larger side involves five to ten acres of cleared, packed ground that serves as the hub for drilling equipment, which can include wellheads, pump jacks, tanks, wastewater storage pits, trailers, and flare stacks.—
Alex Heard,
Outside,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
It’s known that the body’s ability to absorb vitamin B12 decreases with age, and people 75 and older are at higher risk of deficiency.—
Lindsey Leake,
NBC news,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Metro Transit police saw a second consecutive year of decreases to the most serious crimes in 2025, and is staffed with 118 officers out of an authorized 171, according to the department.—
Mara H. Gottfried,
Twin Cities,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Encouraging your kid to brush their teeth twice a day, with a dab of fluoride toothpaste, will guard against cavities.—
Barrie Gillies,
Parents,
9 Mar. 2026
-
One captures a white concrete community mausoleum, its crypts often empty, like absent teeth cavities, its coffins stolen presumably for anything valuable inside.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Napping drops with age to 47% of preschoolers (ages 3 to 5) and 28% of school-age children (6 to 13).—
Lily Hautau,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Mix a few drops of one of the oils, two tablespoons of dishwashing liquid, and two cups of water in a spray bottle.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The three prisoners were dragged to the wall and made to kneel, their backs to the crowd, their heads fitted into the indentations.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Taking new measurements, the researchers saw that as fluid gushed between cells, creating indentations in their cell membranes, bubbles mostly bulged into weaker cells.—
Clare Watson,
Quanta Magazine,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dents. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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