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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dent
Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 17 May 2025
But for all her courthouse coups, Rice didn’t make a dent in the department’s mindset.
—Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2025
Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
Expectations for a major breakthrough, already low, were dented further on Thursday when Trump said there would be no movement without a meeting between himself and Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
—USA Today, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dent
Noun
The front of the white tour bus featured a large dent with several vehicle parts laid out on the road in front of it.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 17 May 2025
But for all her courthouse coups, Rice didn’t make a dent in the department’s mindset.
—Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2025
Verb
Sweeping new tariffs set to take effect in April have the potential to drastically dent the average household budget at a time when higher prices have already kept many American consumers in discount mode for years, experts say.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
Expectations for a major breakthrough, already low, were dented further on Thursday when Trump said there would be no movement without a meeting between himself and Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
—USA Today, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dent
Noun
-
Despite his success, DeBoer’s tenure in Dallas will now be best remembered for his snap decision to pull starting goaltender Jake Oettinger after the Stars fell into an early 2-0 hole in their elimination game against Edmonton last week.—
Carol Schram,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
-
Three holes were drilled in his skull to reduce the pressure on his brain (those holes were later filled with titanium plugs).—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
According to Spire, this rate increase just offsets the decrease in natural gas prices which took effect in November 2024.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
2 June 2025
-
The number of mid-level touring artists dropped from 19% to 12% recently, while even superstars saw their share decrease from 44% to 36%.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
2 June 2025
Verb
-
With Bayern aiming to reduce their wage bill, the Wirtz signing would have come at the cost of at least an extra €20million (£16.8m, $22.7m) per year, on top of a transfer fee somewhere between €100m and €150m.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
-
Their original sentences, which were 12 years and seven years, respectively, were reduced in September 2023.—
Esther Kang,
People.com,
28 May 2025
Noun
-
An elevated deck with vineyard views is set up for alfresco dining and lounging by the fire pit.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
3 June 2025
-
The family pool is on the fourth floor of the hotel and offers daybeds, private shaded cabanas, a hot tub, fire pits and food and drink for sale at the pool area’s bar and grill.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2025
Noun
-
The answer lies in reframing identity governance as a foundational layer for risk reduction.—
Leslie Milne,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
-
This reduction in fuel consumption translates to lower operating costs and a significant decrease in carbon emissions.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
Some studies suggest that launching from tree cavities or branches at specific angles further optimizes its glide performance.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
-
For small cavities, your dentist may recommend using fluoride or other products.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2025
Noun
-
Start with adding a few drops to a quart of water and test it out on a couple of leaves.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
6 June 2025
-
Sinner broke Djokovic again at 4-3 in the second set, which included a nasty cut drop from the baseline that the 24-time major winner stretched for but couldn’t reach.—
David Close,
CNN Money,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
The decline in shipping has broader ripple effects on L.A.’s logistics economy.—
Caroline Petrow-Cohen,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2025
-
Russell Reynolds' Global CEO Turnover Index reports that the average CEO tenure dropped from 8.1 years in Q1 2024 to 6.8 years in Q1 2025, marking the sharpest decline in recent years.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dent. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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