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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
Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 21 Jan. 2026
Larissa Smack-dab in the middle of the country, there is no better place to get the authentic experience of everyday life in Greece.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2026
Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 15 Jan. 2026
Simply dab it into the centre of the lips to complete the halo effect—soft, pillowy, and dreamy.
—Hannah Coates, Vogue, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dab
Noun
Martha finishes the look with Lancôme eyeshadow and eyeliner and a dab of lip gloss.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 21 Jan. 2026
Larissa Smack-dab in the middle of the country, there is no better place to get the authentic experience of everyday life in Greece.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2026
Verb
Wet the sticker with a few drops of water and dab it with a paper towel.
—Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 15 Jan. 2026
Simply dab it into the centre of the lips to complete the halo effect—soft, pillowy, and dreamy.
—Hannah Coates, Vogue, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dab
Verb
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The attorneys went on to argue that Pavlovich’s lawsuits were the culmination of a plan to smear Gaiman and that any legal disputes should be resolved in New Zealand, not the United States.—
Todd Richmond,
Fortune,
10 Feb. 2026
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As a result, calls for action have been met with suspicion, with some online commentators accusing feminists of making up MaskPark as a way to smear Chinese men.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
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During the performance, the singer kneels down to hand Fox the award and pats his head before continuing on.—
Luzdelia Caballero,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
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American associates Experts caution that Britain shouldn’t be too quick to pat itself on the back over its rapid reckoning with Mandelson.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Ryvchin, whose former home was daubed with antisemitic language and cars were set alight earlier this year, said both Australia’s federal government and provincial leaders in the state of New South Wales had failed to act on proposals to curb antisemitic violence.—
Katie Silver,
NBC news,
25 Dec. 2025
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The walls at the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami are daubed with rosy-red pigment from the Cochineal, a cactus-dwelling insect her mother would harvest and sell in her hometown of Ayacucho, Peru.—
Douglas Markowitz,
Miami Herald,
19 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The first-stage booster that had been tapped during the original attempts was discarded for a new booster.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
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Strong antivirus software can help block malicious links and scam sites if one is tapped accidentally, but the safest move is to ignore the message entirely.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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First, there is no way any president can avoid the lens of scrutiny, whether by artists or cameramen, whether slathering a right hand in wet plaster or gummy concealer.—
Harold Holzer,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
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Senior Writer Meghan Overdeep lives at high altitude and swears by slathering Aquaphor Healing Ointment on her hands and lips each night, along with O'Keeffe's for Healthy Feet Foot Cream.—
Melanie Fincher,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Even His Airness could only tip his crown afterward.—
Kevin Sherrington
Feb. 10,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
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Menendez Abdala’s boyfriend, who worked in the Hialeah Police Department, tipped her off before she could be arrested, prosecutors say.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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To celebrate, the president wants to offer free admissions that day to the country’s national parks, a self-serving gesture, no doubt, but one that is no surprise for a man who spent much of his adult life plastering his name on the sides of buildings, airplanes and casino hotels.—
Leonard Greene,
Mercury News,
27 Dec. 2025
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In one scene, Gracie Abrams texts Taylor a picture of the singer plastered on the side of a hotel in Indianapolis.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
23 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Attendees will hear a live children’s choir and be encouraged to clap along and participate in the show.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
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Before Northwestern’s game with Michigan at Wrigley Field last November, an NU student reporter sitting next to me in the press box suddenly began clapping.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dab. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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