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
Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025
The more time Roz spends in the wild, the more her surface changes with dents, scratches, mildew, and mold.
—Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 10 Feb. 2025
Hikmat Mohammed, WWD, 5 Nov. 2024
This year a typhoon and extreme heat dented the harvest, scrambling prices for kumquats and other ornamental plants associated with the holiday, known as Tet in Vietnam.
—Mike Ives, New York Times, 29 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dent
Noun
Just four days after the satisfaction of chalking up back-to-back away wins in the league for the first time all season, Wrexham’s one-time imperious home form took another dent as a third game at the STōK Cae Ras passed without maximum points being claimed.
—Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025
The more time Roz spends in the wild, the more her surface changes with dents, scratches, mildew, and mold.
—Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 10 Feb. 2025
Verb
Even the rising wellness industry seems to be unable to dent the glamour and power a cigarette can radiate in some circles.
—Hikmat Mohammed, WWD, 5 Nov. 2024
This year a typhoon and extreme heat dented the harvest, scrambling prices for kumquats and other ornamental plants associated with the holiday, known as Tet in Vietnam.
—Mike Ives, New York Times, 29 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dent
Noun
-
Placing the tag on Holland could make some sense, but a $19.6 million price tag could be too rich for a Dolphins team that needs to shore up several holes.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
18 Feb. 2025
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The maritime archaeologist identified shell impact holes in the upper starboard of the hull’s ballast tank and significant battle damage to the base of the submarine’s conning tower.—
Sean Kingsley,
Smithsonian Magazine,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In addition to a drop in homicides, Durham saw a 24% decrease in shooting incidents from 2023 to 2024 — though the number of people shot increased 6.8%, according to Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews.—
Zachery Eanes,
Axios,
26 Feb. 2025
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According to the Peterson Institute for International Economics, deporting just 1.3 million undocumented immigrants will trigger a 1.2% decrease in GDP and a 1.1% drop in employment by 2028.—
Noreen Sugrue,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Guided by billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, the Trump administration has moved aggressively the past week to fire probationary workers across federal departments and agencies in an effort to drastically reduce the size of the government.—
Joey Garrison,
USA TODAY,
21 Feb. 2025
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An extra set of eyes and ears helps reduce the odds of injury.—
Josh Honeycutt,
Outdoor Life,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Sliding glass doors open to a massive deck, one of the highlights of the home, that offers lots of lounge space, a fire pit, an al fresco dining spot, and fabulous views of the ocean, the downtown core, and the surrounding mountains.—
Emma Reynolds,
Robb Report,
27 Feb. 2025
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This charming A-frame is the ideal place to take in fresh mountain views and air while still enjoying wintery comforts like a fire pit (circled by modern chairs) and wood-burning stove.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Lift restrictions on shooting outside and in public spaces in L.A. (emulating NYC’s successful program) and offer a temporary reduction in permit fees in conjunction with loosening up notification requirements to reduce FilmLA’s staffing costs.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
1 Mar. 2025
-
The administration is planning a much broader reduction of its workforce.—
Stephen Fowler,
NPR,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Studies show that community water fluoridation can help prevent cavities, which can save families money in the long run, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Feb. 2025
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Summary Your bone marrow is a spongy material located in the cavities of your bones.—
Gagandeep Brar,
Verywell Health,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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That helped offset a 5.5% drop for Conagra Brands, which lowered its forecasts for upcoming profit and other financial measures.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2025
-
Some states have experienced drops at the pumps, while in others, the cost of gas has increased.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
In total, German exports added up to 1.56 trillion euros last year, a 1.2% decline compared with 2023.—
ASSOCIATED PRESS,
TIME,
19 Feb. 2025
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Why Leaders Are Resigning: The Three Critical Factors Erosion Of Trust in Leadership The report shows that only 29% of employees trust their immediate managers—a dramatic decline.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dent. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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