make/put a dent
idiom
: to decrease something slightly or to make something somewhat weaker
We tried our best to fix the problem, but nothing we did seems to have made a dent.
—often + inIt's going to take more than a new law to make a dent in the city's drug crime.
a vacation that won't put too big a dent in your wallet
Examples of make/put a dent in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Eliminating it isn’t going to make a dent in America’s $2 trillion deficit.
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The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
With big gains in benchmarks and vibes, this might be the first Google model that can make a dent in ChatGPT's dominance.
—ArsTechnica, 4 Apr. 2025
If Van Dijk and Salah sign extensions, less business will need to be conducted this summer but those contracts would still put a dent in the funds available for transfers.
—James Pearce, The Athletic, 19 Mar. 2025
Roseman won his first title as a general manager seven years ago, when the Birds put a dent in another dynasty, defeating Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, 41-33.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for make/put a dent
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The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
With big gains in benchmarks and vibes, this might be the first Google model that can make a dent in ChatGPT's dominance.
—ArsTechnica, 4 Apr. 2025
If Van Dijk and Salah sign extensions, less business will need to be conducted this summer but those contracts would still put a dent in the funds available for transfers.
—James Pearce, The Athletic, 19 Mar. 2025
Roseman won his first title as a general manager seven years ago, when the Birds put a dent in another dynasty, defeating Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, 41-33.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for make/put a dent
Cite this Entry
“Make/put a dent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make%2Fput%20a%20dent. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
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