1
as in hole
a sunken area forming a separate space
there was a big dent in the car's hood where something had hit it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decrease
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 to reduce
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent
hopefully this vacation won't dent our bank account too much
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dent
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
Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
Higher yields dent the appeal of non-interest-bearing bullion.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dent
Noun
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
Although it was dethroned last year by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), this year’s revival suggests that sustained controversy has done little to dent its appeal.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
Higher yields dent the appeal of non-interest-bearing bullion.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dent
Noun
-
Just two weeks ago, Gary Woodland decided ot shared his struggles with post traumatic stress disorder, brought on after a September 2023 surgery, which involved a baseball-sized hole cut from the side of his head, to remove a brain lesion.—
Andrew McCarty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Canales admits the loss of Robinson leaves a hole in the defensive line rotation.—
Mike Kaye
March 30,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The compounds interact with the brain's opioid receptors, which can mimic the effects of drugs such as hydrocodone, including sedation, euphoria and a decrease in pain, according to the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Drug Abuse.—
Josh Kelly,
Oklahoman,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Your heart rate will either increase or decrease.—
Brad Stulberg,
Outside,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Protective styles like low buns or braids can also reduce frizz throughout the day.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
In her tenure, Colorado has taken major steps to increase price transparency, reduce hospital and prescription drug costs, and hold the health care industry accountable.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
With large tables inside and an outdoor patio featuring a rustic fire pit, the eatery could easily fit a few families, a birthday party or even a business meeting.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Mar. 2026
-
For children, there are a variety of playrooms in the behavioral health wing, including a sensory gym equipped with adjustable lights, a ball pit and a rock climbing wall.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Construction will then move to East Belknap Street, starting May 11, through June 5, with the same lane reductions in place.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
-
WaterWorks provides up to $300 annually off total water and sewer bills, a reduction of about 33% for roughly 1,000 customers per year.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The researchers used a 5 × 5 array of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, or VCSELs, each capable of sending its own signal.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Typically cavities are found in mature trees, so having a dead tree or small pile of dead branches will actually increase your chances of Eastern bluebirds visiting your garden.—
Abby Fribush,
Southern Living,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Sorokin was locked in from the drop of the puck, denying Colin Blackwell on a shorthanded breakaway 10 minutes in and making a handful of other 10-bell saves on quality scoring chances in the first period alone.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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By 2033, the trust fund will run dry, triggering that immense, across-the-board drop that is slated to punish the most vulnerable Americans by collapsing all benefits an equal share regardless of income.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Estrogen decline is linked to higher total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides.—
Amy Brownstein,
Verywell Health,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Microsoft saw its stock fall 23% over the first quarter, more than the 7% decline of the tech-heavy NASDAQ, marking the worst quarter for its share price since 2008.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dent. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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