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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dent
Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 17 May 2025
But for all her courthouse coups, Rice didn’t make a dent in the department’s mindset.
—Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2025
Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
Expectations for a major breakthrough, already low, were dented further on Thursday when Trump said there would be no movement without a meeting between himself and Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
—USA Today, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dent
Noun
The front of the white tour bus featured a large dent with several vehicle parts laid out on the road in front of it.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 17 May 2025
But for all her courthouse coups, Rice didn’t make a dent in the department’s mindset.
—Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2025
Verb
Sweeping new tariffs set to take effect in April have the potential to drastically dent the average household budget at a time when higher prices have already kept many American consumers in discount mode for years, experts say.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
Expectations for a major breakthrough, already low, were dented further on Thursday when Trump said there would be no movement without a meeting between himself and Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
—USA Today, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dent
Noun
-
Other cavity nesters such as woodpeckers will make holes in trees, and those can also be adopted by tree swallows, flickers, kestrels and chickadees.—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 May 2025
-
For decades, conservationists successfully plugged that hole by arguing in court that the ESA’s prohibition of harm to individual species includes destroying a species’ habitat.—
Emma Marris,
The Atlantic,
25 May 2025
Noun
-
Hard Rock Northern Indiana saw a decrease in earnings with about $38.5 million reported for March 2025 compared to $42.6 million reported in March 2024.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
21 May 2025
-
The annual point-in-time count, which was publicly released Tuesday, saw decreases in shelters and on sidewalks.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 May 2025
Verb
-
Their original sentences, which were 12 years and seven years, respectively, were reduced in September 2023.—
Esther Kang,
People.com,
28 May 2025
-
With Bayern aiming to reduce their wage bill, the Wirtz signing would have come at the cost of at least an extra €20million (£16.8m, $22.7m) per year, on top of a transfer fee somewhere between €100m and €150m.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
Noun
-
Evidence could include jetty and mooring post remnants, ballast stones, boatbuilding pits, temporary shelters, and artifacts indicating local commerce.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
22 May 2025
-
That dynamic pits the department’s higher-ups against its rank-and-file firefighters and EMS workers.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
21 May 2025
Noun
-
This situation highlights a general downturn within the cruise sector, as Carnival Corp has seen a reduction of 12%, Viking Holdings experienced a decline of 2%, and Royal Caribbean stock yielded a modest increase of 3%.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
-
The order to reorganize the NRC will include significant staff reductions but is not intended to fire NRC commissioners who lead the agency.—
Matthew Daly,
Los Angeles Times,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
Some studies suggest that launching from tree cavities or branches at specific angles further optimizes its glide performance.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
-
For small cavities, your dentist may recommend using fluoride or other products.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2025
Noun
-
Rub it with a few drops of oil before putting it away to maintain the nonstick seasoning long term.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
25 May 2025
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Except for a drop last year to 495 people, deaths of homeless people have risen steadily for at least a decade.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 May 2025
Noun
-
That's when crossings at the border first began their sharp decline, a trend that accelerated after Trump took office.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA Today,
26 May 2025
-
But there are also other factors contributing to the job decline, such as price compression caused by oversupply, which has forced many operators to cut costs, including labor expenses.—
Dario Sabaghi,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dent. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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