as in delighted
to take part in an activity in a superficial way
She dabbled in drawing and painting but sculpture was her favorite medium.
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Recent Examples of dabbled
Bennett is concerned, for instance, that Hong could win her primary and then be defeated in November by Republican Tom Tiffany, fumbling the governorship of a swing state into the hands of a far-right Freedom Caucus member who dabbled in 2020 election conspiracy theories.
—
Will Lennon, ABC News, 16 June 2026
Gulf governments, meanwhile, have dabbled abroad as well, while trying to address grievances among their own Shia populations to prevent them from becoming pawns of Tehran.
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 15 June 2026
Fox has dabbled in streaming over the past few years — finally launching its Fox One competitor last August — but has lacked a serious streaming business with the ability to compete in a space dominated by YouTube, Netflix, Amazon, Disney+, HBO Max, Paramount+ and Peacock.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 15 June 2026
Over the past decade, Spielberg has dabbled in dramas for adults (The Post, The Fabelmans) — and made the musical West Side Story — but has not helmed a pure popcorn flick since 2018’s Ready Player One grossed $607 million globally.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2026
The store was run by Sam Yuen, head of one of Los Angeles’ tongs, which were secret societies made up of men from China who often dabbled in illicit activities.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Outside of his playing career, Adams has dabbled in ownership, with stakes in USL clubs Westchester SC and the Hudson Valley Hammers.
—Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 11 June 2026
Outside of her modeling career, she’s dabbled in acting, appearing in a 2019 episode of grown-ish and starring in 2020 BET+ film Trigger.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 10 June 2026
He's also dabbled in entrepreneurship in the wellness and tech spaces.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
Will Lennon, ABC News, 16 June 2026
Gulf governments, meanwhile, have dabbled abroad as well, while trying to address grievances among their own Shia populations to prevent them from becoming pawns of Tehran.
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 15 June 2026
Fox has dabbled in streaming over the past few years — finally launching its Fox One competitor last August — but has lacked a serious streaming business with the ability to compete in a space dominated by YouTube, Netflix, Amazon, Disney+, HBO Max, Paramount+ and Peacock.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 15 June 2026
Over the past decade, Spielberg has dabbled in dramas for adults (The Post, The Fabelmans) — and made the musical West Side Story — but has not helmed a pure popcorn flick since 2018’s Ready Player One grossed $607 million globally.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2026
The store was run by Sam Yuen, head of one of Los Angeles’ tongs, which were secret societies made up of men from China who often dabbled in illicit activities.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Outside of his playing career, Adams has dabbled in ownership, with stakes in USL clubs Westchester SC and the Hudson Valley Hammers.
—Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 11 June 2026
Outside of her modeling career, she’s dabbled in acting, appearing in a 2019 episode of grown-ish and starring in 2020 BET+ film Trigger.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 10 June 2026
He's also dabbled in entrepreneurship in the wellness and tech spaces.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dabbled
Verb
-
British socialite Gertrude Shilling, the mother and muse of milliner David Shilling, delighted Ascot crowds for decades by wearing her son’s fantastical creations.—
Sheena McKenzie,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
-
Fans were delighted by the victory.—
Noel Brennan,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Year-round programming adapts to the seasons, with both kids' and teen programs ensuring young travelers are entertained while adults relax with activities, spa treatments, or quiet meals.—
Chelsea Adams,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
-
Chicago Fire inflatables were set up on the pitch alongside all kinds of activities to keep kids entertained.—
Noel Brennan,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Verb
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The game was played in Texas but Knicks fans gathered at watch parties across the city to witness the team battle back in the fourth quarter to take the title.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
Although the championship-clinching game was played thousands of miles away, police maintained a large presence around Madison Square Garden, the Knicks' home arena.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
As Nix rehabbed from his second surgery, while also enjoying his new role as a first-time father following the birth of his daughter Riley, he was amused by a fervor sprouting across social media or on radio talk shows about his operation and the recovery that followed.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
The process of arranging dinner amused and intimidated me.—
Matthew Kassel,
HollywoodReporter,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
Meek lives with her dad, Smooch (Will Cobbs), a former Black Panther who now runs a roller rink, and her not-to-be-trifled-with grandma, Puddin (Lizan Mitchell).—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dabbled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dabbled. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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