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

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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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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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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

Address dents, holes, and scratches before priming; paint will not hide major surface defects. — Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Aug. 2026 Tracks Check that the tracks on both sides of the door are properly aligned and free of dents or debris. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026 Regularly inspect your spatulas for any sign of wear, including loose components, cracks, scratches or dents. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026 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 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 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

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

At the resort, there’s a host of activities and amenities, including four golf courses with 10-18 holes each, bass fishing, axe throwing, pickleball, and more.

— Megan duBois, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
Instead of etching holes directly into the semiconductor, researchers patterned a silicon dioxide layer and then covered it with epitaxial semiconductor.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of holes

Noun

The soy-tomato condition showed significant reductions in key markers of inflammation.

— Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 5 Sep. 2026
And on the opposite side of the same coin, the solutions to inflation – spending reductions and higher taxes – are massively unpopular and could hurt the economy in the short run.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of reductions

Verb

Where appropriate, allowing patients to schedule routine appointments also reduces unnecessary back-and-forth with the practice.

— Ajay Prasad, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Rather than mine the archive wholesale, Icons reduces recognizable Borgo signatures to their foundations, preserving the rigor while shifting their expression.

— Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of reduces

Noun

The results are splendid when the duo is dealing, but when the line comes off the ice, the quality of play decreases.

— Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
But the city’s overall revenue growth is expected to be offset by decreases in property taxes and state marijuana share-back revenue.

— Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of decreases

Noun

Many toothpastes also have additional active ingredients that target specific oral health concerns, like cavities or gingivitis (gum inflammation).

— Hannah Harper, HEALTH, 6 Sep. 2026
Sound waves excite the air in the cavities, forcing out the oscillating air to generate thrust.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of cavities

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