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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

There was a closet full of phones people had thrown at the wall and dents in the drywall nobody ever explained. — Jeff Rabhan, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026 Bruce’s densified dogwood flooring uses a natural hardening process with heat and pressure to improve resistance to dents and everyday wear. — Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Aug. 2026 Will four of those dots always form the corners of a four-sided shape with no dents or crossed sides? — Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2026 The dings and dents this season had Schwarber, 33, rethinking that last month. — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 Both laminate and vinyl floors offer qualities that perform very well to prevent scratches, dents, and water damage, and as a result, both styles are go-to choices for homeowners who want that peace of mind. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 31 July 2026 Look Look for a firm watermelon that is free from bruises, cuts or dents. — Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado july 15, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026 Cars have destroyed one-third of the roughly 70 planters the city installed back in 2020 and marred the survivors with chips, scratches and dents. — Charlotte Observer, 15 July 2026 During construction, floorboards were left exposed to develop nicks and dents. — Genevieve Walker, Architectural Digest, 11 July 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

Even a carriage horse at the foot of the ancient monument has joined in, sporting a brown bucket hat with holes cut for its ears.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Place the magnetic keys inside the frame’s hangers, then press it into the wall to create two perfect holes to add your hardware in exactly the right spot.

— Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of holes

Noun

In northwest suburban Northlake, the average homeowner would save more than $2,000 on their annual tax bill — a difference of almost 30% — if local data centers did not receive valuation reductions and incentives, according to the analysis.

— Alex Nitkin, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
Historically, organizations have achieved dramatic cost reductions through outsourcing, labor arbitrage, and operating model redesign.

— Peter Bendor-Samuel, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of reductions

Verb

Bright colors pop across the entire massive IPS panel, even at different viewing angles, and a zippy 100Hz refresh rate reduces lag and keeps everything on-screen smooth.

— Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026
Swimming also reduces stress as rhythmic breathing and movement trigger the release of brain chemicals such as endorphins and dopamine, which produce a sense of euphoria and well-being.

— Michael McColly, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of reduces

Noun

When Mother Nature blesses the area with heavy snow, tee up for a day of skiing at nearby Windham and Hunter mountains, post up with s’mores in front of the fire pits on the property, or unwind in its Finnish-style sauna.

— Lori Keong, Architectural Digest, 20 Aug. 2026
The Associated Press gained rare access into one of Ituri's largest mines, in the locality of Iga-Barrière, where miners crowd into pits to dig for gold.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of pits

Noun

States with large rural populations that expanded Medicaid under the Obama-era Affordable Care Act are expected to see the largest decreases in Medicaid spending.

— Joey Garrison, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
Using birdwatching and policy data from more than 2,300 counties across China, a new analysis found that areas with stricter policies enforcing solar energy development have seen decreases in bird diversity over the last 10 years.

— Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of decreases

Noun

Essentially, when sound waves enter these cavities, the moving air is forced out as a concentrated jet.

— Sara Hashemi, Popular Science, 19 Aug. 2026
At the centimeter scale, researchers controlled mini-boats using audible frequencies to activate individual cavities for steering and navigation.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of cavities

Noun

Nike has never before given the Air Max 2001 Air Ecstasy a retro release before, but leaks from earlier this summer indicate the shoe will get a wider revival through in-line drops.

— Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026
At the same time, the drops have suspended pigments that melt into the skin rather than sitting on top of it, creating a more even skin tone with a natural, slightly luminous finish.

— Jenny Berg, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of drops

Noun

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
Like the experimental teeth, the ones from Neanderthal archaeological sites had the same overlapping small fractures, shallow indentations, and shallow scratches.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 June 2026