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
Lemon Kearney argued $1 million wasn't enough to buy a fire engine or make a dent in the city's fleet needs.
—
Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 30 July 2025
That hold harmless provision, however, didn’t seem to make a dent in public school advocates’ opposition, Creighton said.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Meanwhile, its competitor Mattel anticipates tariffs could make a dent this year of up to $100 million.
—Kayla Steinberg, NBC news, 24 July 2025
Fare increases would, at best, only make a dent in responding to a $27 million budget cut.
—Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for make/put a dent
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Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 30 July 2025
That hold harmless provision, however, didn’t seem to make a dent in public school advocates’ opposition, Creighton said.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Meanwhile, its competitor Mattel anticipates tariffs could make a dent this year of up to $100 million.
—Kayla Steinberg, NBC news, 24 July 2025
Fare increases would, at best, only make a dent in responding to a $27 million budget cut.
—Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 24 July 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 3 Aug. 2025.
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