make/put a dent
idiom
: to decrease something slightly or to make something somewhat weaker
We tried our best to fix the problem, but nothing we did seems to have made a dent.
—often + inIt's going to take more than a new law to make a dent in the city's drug crime.
a vacation that won't put too big a dent in your wallet
Examples of make/put a dent in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Eliminating it isn’t going to make a dent in America’s $2 trillion deficit.
—
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
With big gains in benchmarks and vibes, this might be the first Google model that can make a dent in ChatGPT's dominance.
—ArsTechnica, 4 Apr. 2025
If Van Dijk and Salah sign extensions, less business will need to be conducted this summer but those contracts would still put a dent in the funds available for transfers.
—James Pearce, The Athletic, 19 Mar. 2025
Roseman won his first title as a general manager seven years ago, when the Birds put a dent in another dynasty, defeating Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, 41-33.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for make/put a dent
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.
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
With big gains in benchmarks and vibes, this might be the first Google model that can make a dent in ChatGPT's dominance.
—ArsTechnica, 4 Apr. 2025
If Van Dijk and Salah sign extensions, less business will need to be conducted this summer but those contracts would still put a dent in the funds available for transfers.
—James Pearce, The Athletic, 19 Mar. 2025
Roseman won his first title as a general manager seven years ago, when the Birds put a dent in another dynasty, defeating Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, 41-33.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for make/put a dent
Cite this Entry
“Make/put a dent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make%2Fput%20a%20dent. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share