1
2
as in sprinkling
a very small amount
she added a dab of sesame oil to the dressing before pouring it on the salad
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in slap
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
a bear can knock a man down with a simple dab of his paw
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in expert
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field
a dab at finding unappreciated collectibles and reselling them at a considerable profit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dab
Loren Savini, Allure, 22 Jan. 2025
Sides for the faux festive meal included baked potatoes, green beans, and a dab of margarine.
—Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 6 Jan. 2025
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Feb. 2025
Researchers studying animal expressions can also induce mild discomfort—tightening a blood pressure cuff around a leg, for instance, or dabbing a bit of hot chili extract onto the skin.
—science.org, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dab
Noun
The final touch is a dab of gloss at the center of your lips for a little extra dimension, says Carrillo, who recommends the Huda Beauty Faux Filler Extra Shine Lip Gloss for creating a juicy luster.
—Loren Savini, Allure, 22 Jan. 2025
Sides for the faux festive meal included baked potatoes, green beans, and a dab of margarine.
—Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
Garrett, who just turned 29 and recently announced a trade request, would represent a franchise-changing haul, as a future Hall of Famer smack dab in the middle of his prime.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Feb. 2025
Researchers studying animal expressions can also induce mild discomfort—tightening a blood pressure cuff around a leg, for instance, or dabbing a bit of hot chili extract onto the skin.
—science.org, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dab
Verb
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Carbs Before bed, the best carbohydrate options are complex carbs and whole foods, like a piece of whole-grain toast smeared with avocado or a banana with almond butter.—
Lauren Panoff, MPH, RD,
Verywell Health,
28 Feb. 2025
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Soap removes sticky spills, smeared food or mud; bleach might take out the stains left once the crud is gone.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Disinviting him would be the typical Canadian foreign policy move: feel good and pat yourself in the back but achieve nothing.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
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The two critics congratulated him, patting him amiably.—
Anelise Chen,
The Atlantic,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Also on the red carpet tonight before Tom Tykwer’s opening film Das Licht (The Light), multiple protestors formed another protest, wearing masks and raising hands daubed in what seemed to be red paint.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2025
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The burial ground and temple were unearthed when someone tried to build a drainage channel for a modern house; to prevent the dampness of visitors’ breath from damaging the extraordinary artworks daubed on the walls, entry is limited to 80 people per day.—
Tanvi Chheda,
AFAR Media,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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For a bolder look tap two dots directly onto each cheek and blend.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
7 Mar. 2025
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After the Trump administration tapped the Office of Personnel Management to fire federal employees en masse, a federal judge temporarily blocked it, citing OPM's lack of authority to fire employees at other agencies.—
Nicole Sganga,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Named oh-so appropriately, cheese dreams are pillowy bites of bread slathered in butter, topped with a generous layer of sharp Cheddar cheese, and toasted to golden, crispy perfection.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2025
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To take it a step further, buy a bag of prepared breadsticks, slather them with garlic butter, and warm them up in the oven for your own warm breadstick side.—
Jessica Saari Christensen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Boys basketball Bishop’s The Knights, the sixth seed in San Diego Section Division II, tipped off on the road against No. 2 Mira Mesa in the semifinals Feb. 26 in a game that ended in controversy.—
Ben Ali H Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Mar. 2025
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Week 2 of the FHSAA finals tips off with Tuesday games that include Eustis taking on 4A favorite Gibbs of St. Petersburg.—
Buddy Collings,
Orlando Sentinel,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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As a result, the infiltrator managed to gain access to her nude photos and then distributed them to her Snapchat contacts and Facebook friends, before plastering them on her Facebook page as well, police said.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
7 Mar. 2025
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The city received complaints that candidates’ signs were too large — such as one about a bus with the candidate’s face plastered on the side taking up multiple parking spots at the Civic Center.—
Natalia Jaramillo,
Orlando Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In one video, another husband, who happens to be a drummer according to the video’s text, finds the beat quickly and even has help from his son, who claps along in rhythm.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
24 Feb. 2025
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Why isn’t this movie about her and her hot girlfriend? Love the shot of Gracie clapping approvingly.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
21 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to dab
Cite this Entry
“Dab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dab. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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