1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in reduces
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
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
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
Will the metal frame collect more dents and dings in education scenarios than plastic would?
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Beater bars can be too harsh for wood flooring and cause surface scratches, while some vacuum wheels can cause dents due to their weight.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 21 Feb. 2026
Fill in any deeper scratches or dents with a wax wood repair kit to match.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
Uneven tire wear, low tire pressure, sidewall bulges or blisters and dents in wheel rims.
—Jim Gorzelany, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Anyway, dents are coming for the Patriots next year when their road will get much rockier, and all of this schedule conversation will inevitably subside.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 7 Dec. 2025
Keep yours protected from scratches and dents with this leather zip case.
—Michelle Baricevic, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 2025
Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026
The Red Wings’ penalty kill has been better on the whole this season, though an 0-for-3 showing certainly dents their numbers and drops them to 80 percent on the season.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
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
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
Will the metal frame collect more dents and dings in education scenarios than plastic would?
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Beater bars can be too harsh for wood flooring and cause surface scratches, while some vacuum wheels can cause dents due to their weight.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 21 Feb. 2026
Fill in any deeper scratches or dents with a wax wood repair kit to match.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
Uneven tire wear, low tire pressure, sidewall bulges or blisters and dents in wheel rims.
—Jim Gorzelany, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Anyway, dents are coming for the Patriots next year when their road will get much rockier, and all of this schedule conversation will inevitably subside.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 7 Dec. 2025
Keep yours protected from scratches and dents with this leather zip case.
—Michelle Baricevic, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 2025
Verb
The richest man alive, Elon Musk, has countered that taxing every billionaire at 100% barely dents the $39 trillion national debt.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026
The Red Wings’ penalty kill has been better on the whole this season, though an 0-for-3 showing certainly dents their numbers and drops them to 80 percent on the season.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
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
-
Korda took the season opener that was cut to 54 holes because of extreme cold and wind in Florida, while Kim won last week at Sharon Heights.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Make no mistake, as healthy top-to-bottom as Denver is, there are still a few notable holes on this roster.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The funding is ongoing while Colorado challenges the policy in court, but if reductions are made permanent, Mahanan predicts a wave of day care closures, almost overnight.—
Shay Castle,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Dell said in its 10-K that fiscal 2026 headcount reductions stemmed from employee reorganizations, limits on external hiring, and other cost-alignment measures tied to its business modernization efforts.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
By banning advertising by legal operators during live sporting events and sharply limiting promotions, the proposal drastically reduces the visibility of the regulated market.—
Cláudia Nunes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Technologies such as Revo-Su, which significantly reduces water consumption, and B210, which enables biodegradability in stretch fabrics, are direct outcomes of this focus.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Pangea’s partners mill (grind) and hydrolyze (break down using water) these pits.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The patio at Saints and Council features fire pits, heaters and heated seats.—
Henri Hollis,
AJC.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Many hundreds of millions of public and philanthropic dollars have been flowing into CVI (although The Free Press story feels dated to us, in terms of the significant recent decreases in federal and state funds applied to these initiatives).—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The years since have seen decreases in the number of overdose deaths.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Tomar said stripping fluoride from the water in Birmingham has unnecessarily put residents at greater risk for cavities.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Rather than applying the same treatment to everyone, the system adjusts sound waves to match an individual’s anatomy, aiming to work with the natural structure of the sinus cavities rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Add the mochiko, orange juice, sugar, vanilla, and a few drops of vinegar, and stir until a smooth batter forms.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Christian wins individual immunity for Purple but drops.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
When the band sits too high, the shoulder straps bear excess weight, often leading to deep indentations or tension.—
Malana VanTyler
March 20,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Even the faintest scratches and indentations become legible.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dents. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
