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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dents
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
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
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 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
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
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
Verb
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 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
-
Russell Henley birdied the final four holes, including in a sudden death playoff, to win the PGA Tour’s Charles Schwab Challenge on Sunday at Colonial Country Club.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 May 2026
-
At least one watchdog group warned the legislation could poke more holes into the property tax base for very large developers across the state, not just the Bears.—
Jeremy Gorner,
Chicago Tribune,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Eco effort The hotel is marching along a path to zero-landfill waste, helped in part by reductions in single-use plastics and paper materials, plus a swift recycling program.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Crucially, the military should balance these financials with attractive inducements such as robust family health care coverage, prescription drug cost reductions, and partial pension possibilities for those who provide vital service short of a full 20-year career.—
Robert Krasner,
STAT,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Building on its successful rollout in Brazil, Juspay is expanding Click to Pay globally to eliminate manual card entry, which minimizes checkout friction, reduces cart abandonment and boosts conversion rates.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
4 June 2026
-
Maintaining your yard by mowing, removing leaf litter, and trimming vegetation reduces tick habitats.—
Dan Simms,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
In a third and final scenario — the one designed to test insight — the team moved the flower from the floor to the ceiling, just above one of four pits shaped to accommodate the ball.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
-
More generally, cottonmouths have broad heads and dark stripes that run through their eyes, as well as deep facial pits between their eyes and nostrils.—
Sarah Perkel,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
But, crucially, once a player has been registered, their status is not affected by the salary limit — whether the limit increases or decreases.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
-
Burnout risk decreases while clarity, engagement and resilience increase.—
Sharon A. Kuhn,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Dentists can also sometimes stop cavities with fluoride varnishes and prevent them with dental sealants, which were once recommended only for children, Fontana said.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 May 2026
-
The buttons along the earcups are also more distinct, and the microphone grilles have been redesigned from the usual mesh cavities to larger holes that appear to punch directly through the earcup chassis.—
Jess Weatherbed,
The Verge,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The latter is no small feat because supersonic speed dramatically changes the aerodynamics of an aircraft, making missile launches or bomb drops extremely difficult, to put it mildly.—
David Szondy
June 04,
New Atlas,
4 June 2026
-
Some rate drops are slowing, including the nights of four of seven matches at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
3 June 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 6 Jun. 2026.
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