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
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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
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
After two of my three test trips, small dents had appeared in the shell.
—Charley Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026
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
Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026
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
Noun
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
After two of my three test trips, small dents had appeared in the shell.
—Charley Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026
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
Verb
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 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
-
Borers tunnel and weave through branches, leaving holes and open wounds as evidence of their travels.—
Emily Leahy,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
-
Kaser’s masterstroke is in compounding these questions of agency with his deft writing style—there are motifs of holes, bottles, and explosions.—
Alastair Shuttleworth,
Pitchfork,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Further reductions in homelessness will help balance our budget.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
-
While many observers expect layoffs to help the company reach that target, executives have maintained that back-office efficiencies and the deployment of technology, rather than headcount reductions, will be the drivers.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Congress should invest in technology, innovation and infrastructure that reduces wildfire risk, protects water supply and develops cleaner energy that works for California families.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
Also, reusing local rubble reduces the carbon emissions from transporting heavy sand and gravel across long distances.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
The cost estimate for cleanup of the underwater waste, known as the northern impoundment of the San Jacinto waste pits, has now climbed to a quarter of a billion dollars.—
Rebekah F. Ward,
Houston Chronicle,
7 May 2026
-
There are two square holes in the stage — basically orchestra pits where the band resides.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Even if policy changes or negotiations are successful, Schieldrop said that seeing significant decreases in prices is likely still a long time coming.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
4 May 2026
-
All 39 have recorded enrollment decreases, based on an analysis by the California Department of Education.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Install Multiple Houses Different species of native bees use nesting cavities of different sizes.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Many communities have chosen to add fluoride to the tap water for decades, as a public health measure that is estimated to reduce cavities by around 25%.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Two aviation courses are expected to take place, including water drops, passenger loading, cargo handling and refining communications, according to a release.—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
7 May 2026
-
Lee announces the drops via Dover Sole Market’s Instagram stories Wednesday or Thursday for Saturday and Sunday pickup.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Make four small indentations in vegetable mixture.—
Maddy Bendgen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Apr. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Dents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dents. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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