as in dipping
to sink or push (something) briefly into or as if into a liquid
dunking a doughnut in one's morning coffee
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of dunking
The new jumbo-sized shrimp are hand-dipped in batter, rolled in coconut, and fried to a golden crisp, with a side of creole marmalade for dunking.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 2 Mar. 2026
Ware had a quiet first half, with two points and two rebounds in 10 minutes, but came alive after intermission, dunking three times, hitting a three and collecting 12 points and 6 rebounds in nine second half minutes.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
The Spurs’ Carter Bryant moves the ball between his legs in midair before dunking during the all-star dunk contest on Saturday.
—Ronaldo Bolaños, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Before some of the NBA’s best players spent Valentine’s Day Saturday in competitive 3-point shooting and dunking exhibitions, Commissioner Adam Silver gave his best lawyerly answers in a half-hour-long news conference focused largely on unethical hoops.
—Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 15 Feb. 2026
Moments later, with a midair tribute to the dunking style of Karl Malone, Johnson was inflight over E-40 and on the way to vanquishing Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxon Hayes and Orlando Magic rookie guard Jase Richardson in the first round.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
Johnson hit the court with rapper E-40, jumping and dunking over the rapper while posing for the cameras.
—Dan Woike, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
It’s built for salads, sure, but ranch dressing is also, crucially, a dip, ideal for dunking chicken wings and tofu nuggets.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Feb. 2026
The Hornets are a fun watch — on the break, hitting 3-pointers, dunking and competing.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 2 Mar. 2026
Ware had a quiet first half, with two points and two rebounds in 10 minutes, but came alive after intermission, dunking three times, hitting a three and collecting 12 points and 6 rebounds in nine second half minutes.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
The Spurs’ Carter Bryant moves the ball between his legs in midair before dunking during the all-star dunk contest on Saturday.
—Ronaldo Bolaños, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Before some of the NBA’s best players spent Valentine’s Day Saturday in competitive 3-point shooting and dunking exhibitions, Commissioner Adam Silver gave his best lawyerly answers in a half-hour-long news conference focused largely on unethical hoops.
—Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 15 Feb. 2026
Moments later, with a midair tribute to the dunking style of Karl Malone, Johnson was inflight over E-40 and on the way to vanquishing Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxon Hayes and Orlando Magic rookie guard Jase Richardson in the first round.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
Johnson hit the court with rapper E-40, jumping and dunking over the rapper while posing for the cameras.
—Dan Woike, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
It’s built for salads, sure, but ranch dressing is also, crucially, a dip, ideal for dunking chicken wings and tofu nuggets.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Feb. 2026
The Hornets are a fun watch — on the break, hitting 3-pointers, dunking and competing.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dunking
Verb
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On the tea-time menu that Wednesday is Vazhakkai Bajji, green plantain slivers folded into spicy chickpea batter, deep-fried a crisp orange-brown and presented on a banana leaf with a coconut dipping chutney on the side.—
Kalpana Mohan,
Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2026
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As the flood was beginning to wane, a monarch was crossing the valley, momentarily dipping down to sip nectar from a patch of penstemons still standing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This energy can lend itself to immersing yourself in creative undertakings and healing self-work but isn’t exactly the best for anything that requires absolute clarity, facts, figures, or even speediness.—
Maressa Brown,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
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Clear things up with your ex before immersing yourself in his church.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dunking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dunking. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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