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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of dents
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
17 June 2026
That French idiom about having long teeth — les dents longues — can have negative connotations about a person’s ambitious streak.
—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
15 June 2026
But several shots appear to hit with enough force to leave visible impact marks and dents in the wall.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
In addition to the two smaller punctures, there were also dents and creases.
—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Ideal for dressers, doors, desks, and even hardwood floors, the kit includes six markers for surface-level touchups in shades like cherry, walnut, and mahogany, plus six wax sticks to fill deeper dents and gouges.
—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 May 2026
From there, observe any dents, soft spots or cracks.
—
Alexandra Frost,
USA Today,
25 May 2026
Hail damage can be subtle — granule loss and small dents that shorten a roof’s life without obvious leaks.
—
Ryan Brennan
may 15,
Charlotte Observer,
15 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
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
Noun
Watch for dents, broken springs, or light coming through, as these can strain parts and lead to bigger issues.
—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
17 June 2026
That French idiom about having long teeth — les dents longues — can have negative connotations about a person’s ambitious streak.
—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
15 June 2026
But several shots appear to hit with enough force to leave visible impact marks and dents in the wall.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
In addition to the two smaller punctures, there were also dents and creases.
—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Ideal for dressers, doors, desks, and even hardwood floors, the kit includes six markers for surface-level touchups in shades like cherry, walnut, and mahogany, plus six wax sticks to fill deeper dents and gouges.
—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 May 2026
From there, observe any dents, soft spots or cracks.
—
Alexandra Frost,
USA Today,
25 May 2026
Hail damage can be subtle — granule loss and small dents that shorten a roof’s life without obvious leaks.
—
Ryan Brennan
may 15,
Charlotte Observer,
15 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
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
-
After shooting 1-over 71 on Saturday, James made bogey on his final two holes and finished Sunday’s final round at 3-over 73.
-
On a building near where the shooting occurred, bullet holes were seen on its facade, including a crack in an apartment window.
Noun
-
This is because many people tolerate the early dose reductions fairly well but struggle more near the end of the taper because the brain becomes increasingly sensitive to serotonin changes at lower doses.
-
Support for older adults in poverty Benefits that many low-income older Americans rely on are facing substantial reductions.
Verb
-
Good posture helps prevent aches in the back, neck and shoulders, reduces joint wear and lowers the risk of sports injuries, according to Cleveland Clinic.
-
Skipping the stove and oven also reduces indoor heat, so lean on cold sandwiches, salads and no-cook meals during the worst hours.
Noun
-
Areas such as crawl spaces, sump pump pits, utility cellars and under-porch areas can be hotter than outside air, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
-
Bordeaux Wine Bar, Enumclaw, Washington – A favorite neighborhood hangout, this indoor/outdoor wine bar is known for warm fire pits in the winter months and a large selection of Northwest wines, along with a seasonal food menu.
Noun
-
And Egypt’s Mohamed Salah’s tenure as a Liverpool player coincided with significant decreases in anti-Muslim hate crimes across the city.
-
Local law enforcement have touted recent decreases in crime on the CTA in particular, which beefed up security staffing in December and again in March.
Noun
-
The extra saliva helps rinse away food particles and bacteria that can contribute to cavities, making gum a useful addition to your travel routine.
-
Hummingbirds do not nest in cavities, choosing to build their tiny nests in trees and shrubs instead.
Noun
-
Helitack crews – like the one from Rifle County – often parachute into remote areas and help coordinate water drops to extinguish the flames.
-
That came on May 7 before a staggered series of price drops tempered by price-hike rebounds over the last seven weeks amid on-again and off-again peace talks in the Middle East.
Noun
-
Like the experimental teeth, the ones from Neanderthal archaeological sites had the same overlapping small fractures, shallow indentations, and shallow scratches.
-
Overnight, indentations in the tarmac had been filled with sand, to ease the passing of the royal carriages.
Cite this Entry
“Dents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dents. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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