dint

1 of 2

noun

1
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

Examples of dint in a Sentence

Noun left a small dint in the car's fender
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
And, by dint of fate (or good scheduling), this year’s game even features two classic Rose Bowl teams — Ohio State and Oregon, both of which are serious title contenders. Melissa Kirsch, New York Times, 28 Dec. 2024 Global histories, by dint of their ambition, can be risky. Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Verb
But as similar fights play out in battleground states, including Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, and Michigan, repeated complaints about fraud could dint public faith in the electoral process. Max Thornberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 3 July 2024 Then he was moved to the second unit, which seemed to dint his confidence. Patrick Murray, Forbes, 23 May 2021 See All Example Sentences for dint

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of dint was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dint. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

dint

1 of 2 noun
1
: the force or power of something
used chiefly in the phrase by dint of
succeeded by dint of hard work
2

dint

2 of 2 verb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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