dent 1 of 2

noun

Definition of dentnext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dent

2 of 2

verb

ˈdent How to pronounce dent (audio)
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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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of dent
Noun
Paul Taubman, who left Morgan Stanley in 2013 to hang out a shingle, was the last star whose exit made a meaningful dent in the M&A leaderboard. — semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026 The Americans filled the leaderboard with their red numbers Saturday morning, and then had to rely on Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns rallying late in their fourballs match to at least make a dent in the International lead at the Presidents Cup. — ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
Verb
But with female crabs able to produce up to 8 million eggs every season, culling barely dented their numbers. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026 The facility had dented cans of olives, tomato sauce and artichokes. — Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dent
  1. hole
  2. decrease
  3. reduce
  4. pit
  5. reduction
  6. cavity
  7. drop
  8. decline
Noun
  • The average user on both a sportsbook and prediction market loses money, and trying to claw back losses puts users in even deeper financial holes, experts warn.
    — Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Walker split a hole created by Trey Smith and Jaylon Moore on the right side of the line, never broke stride and sprinted 76 yards down the right side to set up the Chiefs’ go-ahead touchdown pass to Thornton in the fourth quarter.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of hole
Noun
  • The decrease in gut bacteria diversity was tied to expansions in populations of certain bad actors, such as the bacteria Enterococcus faecium.
    — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Kansas City dropped 221,703 to 1,527,098 and Arizona, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Colorado and Philadelphia all experienced decreases of 100,000 to 200,000.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of decrease
Verb
  • This allows Vestas to standardize its construction processes, lower costs, and reduce defects.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • This reduced atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and turned soil into the first terrestrial carbon sinks.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of reduce
Noun
  • The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors’ 4th District race pits outgoing State Board of Equalization member Ted Gaines against first-time candidate Gina Posey.
    — Haley Parsley October 2, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • But none of those cowards should be in a pit lane in the foreseeable future.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of pit
Noun
  • Twin Cities Marathon reported similar information, though without detailed analysis of risk reduction methods.
    — Vibhu Krishna, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Staff reductions are expected to be brutal, and with so many duplicative roles across HBO Max and Paramount+, many talented executives will lose their jobs.
    — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of reduction
Noun
  • Gum disease, cavities and missing teeth track with higher rates of stroke, cardiovascular disease and cancer, with ties also drawn to diabetes, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer’s.
    — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026
  • In laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), a 3D printing method, a laser selectively melts layers of metal powder to form complex internal passages and cavities.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of cavity
Noun
  • On Friday, Tesla reported better-than-expected third-quarter vehicle deliveries, lifting the stock almost 5%, but the company still posted a 2% year-over-year drop.
    — Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The practical argument for wind-and-rain protection applies equally to spring transitional weather, and the trickle-down to Zara and Uniqlo means the shape will stay in stores well past this fall’s drop cycle.
    — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of drop
Noun
  • Huawei's push into the smartphone market comes as sales in China have slumped this year, with a double-digit decline year-on-year in August and September, according to Counterpoint Research.
    — Matthew Tan,Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The co-CEOs have modeled a cash ramp-up in coming years but meanwhile there’s not a big cushion if churn rises, cable-network declines accelerate, the box office softens again or there’s macroeconomic or geopolitical disruption.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of decline

Browse Nearby Words

density
dent
dented
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Cite this Entry

“Dent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dent. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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