1
as in holes
a sunken area forming a separate space
there was a big dent in the car's hood where something had hit it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reductions
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 reduces
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent
hopefully this vacation won't dent our bank account too much
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dents
Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Oct. 2025
The beige paint on this one was faded and the surface had some dents and rough spots.
—Laura Lane, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
There is no porthole, but dents in the wall mark where nails must once have held up maps or schedules, maybe photographs from home, and slotted into a niche in the wall is a small gilt mirror.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Amazon reviewers love how the mug resists dents even after countless drops.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025
Fill in any deeper scratches or dents with a wax wood repair kit to match.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
Speculation has also risen over whether the couple posed for the pictures after their record-breaking appearance together on Kelce's own podcast, New Heights, due to the dents in Swift's hear resembling the kind that headphones can create.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Deep dents often have sharp points.
—David J. Neal
updated August 22, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
Additional images from the scene showed the damage to the bus, which included dents along the top and sides, broken doors and several missing parts.
—Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
The result not only dents the appeal of Liverpool assets but also thrusts Palace into the spotlight for FPL managers.
—Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Whether this latest controversy dents MrBeast's online empire or prompts wider scrutiny of influencer accountability remains to be seen.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
For example, if a falling tree branch breaks your windshield or hail dents your car, comprehensive coverage can pay for repairs.
—Brandi D. Addison, jsonline.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
Softened is different from melted, because softened butter still holds its shape but dents when pressed.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Oct. 2025
The beige paint on this one was faded and the surface had some dents and rough spots.
—Laura Lane, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
There is no porthole, but dents in the wall mark where nails must once have held up maps or schedules, maybe photographs from home, and slotted into a niche in the wall is a small gilt mirror.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Amazon reviewers love how the mug resists dents even after countless drops.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025
Fill in any deeper scratches or dents with a wax wood repair kit to match.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
Speculation has also risen over whether the couple posed for the pictures after their record-breaking appearance together on Kelce's own podcast, New Heights, due to the dents in Swift's hear resembling the kind that headphones can create.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Deep dents often have sharp points.
—David J. Neal
updated August 22, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
Additional images from the scene showed the damage to the bus, which included dents along the top and sides, broken doors and several missing parts.
—Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Verb
The Lakers, like the Celtics, are tenants in their arena, which dents their ability to drive revenue from concerts and other events.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
The result not only dents the appeal of Liverpool assets but also thrusts Palace into the spotlight for FPL managers.
—Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Whether this latest controversy dents MrBeast's online empire or prompts wider scrutiny of influencer accountability remains to be seen.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
For example, if a falling tree branch breaks your windshield or hail dents your car, comprehensive coverage can pay for repairs.
—Brandi D. Addison, jsonline.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dents
Noun
-
Once written, the script’s fantastic promise distracted its readers from the fatal holes in its plot.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Plus, the storage area has ventilation holes to keep items from becoming musty.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Federal employees are entitled to back pay under a 2019 law, but agencies have been instructed to consider workforce reductions for unfunded programs that fall outside presidential priorities.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Just under a third expect headcount reductions, and 30% predict an increase of headcount within the next three years.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
According to the Department of Transportation, daylight saving time saves energy, prevents traffic injuries and reduces crime.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Cold water reduces those problems for all your clothes and linens, giving them a longer lifespan.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The courtyard is outfitted with several fire pits and is a nice place to hang out, and the property regularly hosts outdoor yoga classes as well.—
Mae Hamilton,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Oct. 2025
-
In warm weather, rent a paddleboard from the hotel and glide across Lake Estes, or warm up around the fire pits or in the dry sauna.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
As estrogen decreases during menopause, nerves in the hypothalamus — an almond-size region deep inside the brain whose functions include helping regulate the body’s thermostat — become hyperactive and produce an overabundance of chemical signals called neurokinins.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Prices across Louisville have generally followed the national trend, showing significant decreases from their peak in the first quarter of 2025.—
Olivia Evans,
Louisville Courier Journal,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Thus far, 10 have been inspected from a site at the north end of SONGS that holds the canisters in vertical cavities.—
Rob Nikolewski,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Even with the rise of fluoride in toothpaste and other products, it’s credited with a 25% decrease in cavities.—
Anna Clark,
ProPublica,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The ability to shop Hibbett’s assortment mix on the Uber Eats app went live on Thursday, ensuring that athletes, sneakerheads and fans can get the latest sneaker drops, running shoes and lifestyle sneakers on the Uber platform.—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Lower-earning majors beyond just communications saw drops, however.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Flour the tines of a fork; lightly press it into edge of the dough to create indentations.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The bullet casing had the same tool markings – unique individual indentations that guns produce on casings once they have been expended – to a gun used in an unsolved murder in Kentucky in 1998.—
Jean Casarez,
CNN Money,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dents. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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