dint

1 of 2

noun

ˈdint 

1

: force, power

2

: dent entry 2

3

archaic : blow, stroke

dint

2 of 2

verb

dinted; dinting; dints

transitive verb

1

: to make a dent in

2

: to impress or drive in with force

Phrases

by dint of

: by force of : because of

succeeded by dint of hard work

Synonyms

Noun

• cavity
• concavity
• dent
• depression
• hole
• hollow
• indentation
• indenture
• pit
• recess

Examples of dint in a Sentence

Noun

left a small dint in the car's fender

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Both by dint of its large population and its relative poverty, India, the world’s most populous country, could play a role similar to the one China has played over the last 20 years. —Branko Milanovic, Foreign Affairs, 14 June 2023

The galaxies are impressive by dint their age, but not by dint of their size and mass. —Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 13 Dec. 2022

Verb

Then he was moved to the second unit, which seemed to dint his confidence. —Patrick Murray, Forbes, 23 May 2021

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English dynt; akin to Old Norse dyntr noise

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dint

• by dint of

Kids Definition

dint

1 of 2 noun

ˈdint 

1

: the force or power of something

—used chiefly in the phrase by dint of

succeeded by dint of hard work

2

: dent entry 2 sense 1

dint

2 of 2 verb

: dent entry 1 sense 1