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2
as in sprinkling
a very small amount
she added a dab of sesame oil to the dressing before pouring it on the salad
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in slap
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
a bear can knock a man down with a simple dab of his paw
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in expert
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field
a dab at finding unappreciated collectibles and reselling them at a considerable profit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of dab
Amplified Content Studio, The Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2024
For extra shine and frizz control, smooth a tiny dab over dry hair as the perfect finishing touch.
—Sarah Hoffmann, Allure, 22 Dec. 2024
Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2025
Like mine, Morgan’s earliest fragrance memory also includes watching her family matriarch — her grandmother — dabbing perfume with almost ritualistic precision, which has continued to inspire her work.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 10 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for dab 
Noun
Each dab contains one gram of Delta-8 wax concentrate.
—Amplified Content Studio, The Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2024
For extra shine and frizz control, smooth a tiny dab over dry hair as the perfect finishing touch.
—Sarah Hoffmann, Allure, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
Smoosh visibly tears up in his arms, requiring dabbing with the penalty flag.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2025
Like mine, Morgan’s earliest fragrance memory also includes watching her family matriarch — her grandmother — dabbing perfume with almost ritualistic precision, which has continued to inspire her work.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 10 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for dab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dab
Verb
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Nevertheless, Trump made attacking trans athletes a major issue on the campaign trail, even smearing Olympic gold medalist boxer Imane Khelif, a cis woman, as an abusive trans woman days before the November 2024 election.—
Samantha Riedel,
Them,
7 Feb. 2025
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Presently, my then-one-year-old son toddled into the room and proceeded to smear his sticky hands all over the walls of our den.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
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To peel dragon fruit: Wash the fruit well under cool running water, then pat dry with a clean kitchen towel.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Jan. 2025
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After, rinse it with clean water and pat dry with a lint-free cloth.—
Shelby Wax,
Vogue,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The burial ground and temple were unearthed when someone tried to build a drainage channel for a modern house; to prevent the dampness of visitors’ breath from damaging the extraordinary artworks daubed on the walls, entry is limited to 80 people per day.—
Tanvi Chheda,
AFAR Media,
17 Jan. 2025
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Friday’s attack comes just days after red swastikas were daubed on two synagogues in the Sydney suburbs of Allawah and Newtown.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Being able to tap into this wealth of IP and find stories that can be adapted for modern audiences is a key part of the gameplan moving forward.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2025
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Despite her challenges, Wong continues to try to make things better for many people, tapping into her business acumen and personal experience.—
Daniel I. Dorfman,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Naturally, the formulations of the products matter—double moisturizing is not just about slathering on layers of cream and oil.—
Marie Courtois,
Vogue,
7 Feb. 2025
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Early on, a dancing duo, one of whom is slathered in fake blood, has a screaming match over the logistics of an act; later, a party sequence visualizes dancers getting shot one-by-one in front of tinsel curtains.—
Beatrice Loayza,
ARTnews.com,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Fox’s first win as a Spur ended roughly half an hour before his former team, the Sacramento Kings, tipped off against the Orlando Magic at Golden 1 Center, where Zach LaVine made his Kings debut.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacramento Bee,
6 Feb. 2025
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The show will air beginning at 11 a.m. on ESPN, with the game set to tip off at 1 p.m. on ABC.—
Kels Dayton,
Hartford Courant,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Wanted posters requesting information about Giles’ whereabouts were plastered all over the building’s lobby.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2025
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Her step cut featured a micro-fringe, framing pieces cut to the earlobe (and plastered to the face), and long, inky layers reaching towards her navel.—
Morgan Fargo,
Vogue,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The 78-year-old also posted side-by-side Super Bowl videos—one of himself with Ivanka Trump clapping alongside cheers inside the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans; the other was of Swift being booed by the same crowd.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
13 Feb. 2025
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The fans started clapping, and Rock began singing again.—
Rachel DeSantis,
People.com,
10 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Dab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dab. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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