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 Mar. 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
Will the metal frame collect more dents and dings in education scenarios than plastic would?
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 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
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
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 Mar. 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
Will the metal frame collect more dents and dings in education scenarios than plastic would?
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 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
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
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
-
Korda took the season opener that was cut to 54 holes because of extreme cold and wind in Florida, while Kim won last week at Sharon Heights.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Make no mistake, as healthy top-to-bottom as Denver is, there are still a few notable holes on this roster.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The funding is ongoing while Colorado challenges the policy in court, but if reductions are made permanent, Mahanan predicts a wave of day care closures, almost overnight.—
Shay Castle,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Dell said in its 10-K that fiscal 2026 headcount reductions stemmed from employee reorganizations, limits on external hiring, and other cost-alignment measures tied to its business modernization efforts.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Lower-temperature graphite production The second pathway, discovered by NLR and NCSU, reduces the temperature required to produce the mineral.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Mar. 2026
-
By revitalizing dormant follicles and promoting the transition from the telogen phase back to anagen, minoxidil reduces the overall quantity of hair lost.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The site is 30 minutes away from the Pacific Coast and offers an array of amenities including pools, a spa, fire pits, wellness center and dog parks.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The Pickleball Trials take place on Monday, March 30 – this one pits band members Rivers Cuomo, Scott Shriner, Patrick Wilson and Brian Bell against fans in a pickleball tournament.—
Peter Larsen,
Daily News,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Many hundreds of millions of public and philanthropic dollars have been flowing into CVI (although The Free Press story feels dated to us, in terms of the significant recent decreases in federal and state funds applied to these initiatives).—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The years since have seen decreases in the number of overdose deaths.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
To keep them plentiful, the FWC recommends homeowners preserve trees with cavities or peeling bark, leave dead fronds on palm trees to provide roosting spots, add native plants when landscaping to attract pollinators and install a bat house on your property.—
Lois K. Solomon,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
-
If five states ban fluoride in drinking water, the costs to Medicaid for a significant increase in kids with cavities could top $40 million within three years, a new analysis finds.—
Erika Edwards,
NBC news,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The median decline was 25%, and four stores saw drops significantly steeper than that.—
April Quevedo,
jsonline.com,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Health precautions If air quality drops, stay indoors as much as possible.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Des Moines Register,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
When the band sits too high, the shoulder straps bear excess weight, often leading to deep indentations or tension.—
Malana VanTyler
March 20,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Even the faintest scratches and indentations become legible.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dents. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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