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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of dab
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 15 May 2026
There’s a dab, a song, a joke about a tattoo.
—Rob Crilly, The Washington Examiner, 15 May 2026
Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 15 Feb. 2026
Then, use a makeup sponge to dab pink into the center of the nail for an aura effect.
—Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dab
Noun
And with the return of Kelly Reilly's Beth and Cole Hauser's Rip, things are about to get spicier than a dab of Texas Pete.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 15 May 2026
There’s a dab, a song, a joke about a tattoo.
—Rob Crilly, The Washington Examiner, 15 May 2026
Verb
Soften Stuck-On Batter If the batter is burnt and just won't budge, dab it with a couple of drops of cooking oil.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 15 Feb. 2026
Then, use a makeup sponge to dab pink into the center of the nail for an aura effect.
—Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dab
Noun
-
Even after losing, Massie took jabs at Trump during his concession speech, insulting the President’s White House ballroom and highlighting the rise in gas prices.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
20 May 2026
-
Over the last year, the companies have been entangled in a mix of suits and countersuits, taking jabs at each other’s products and progress.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
There’s also a sprinkling of business travelers and Cairo residents meeting friends at the restaurants.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
-
For balanced nutrition, combining both, like sprinkling almonds on oatmeal, offers the best of both worlds.—
Brianna Tobritzhofer,
Health,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Trading Mantha, for instance, would have been a slap in their faces.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
-
The Need For Improvement At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Cox is too solidly built to be a slap-and-run singles hitter.—
Chuck Murr,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Crime victims are at least as important as criminals; unfortunately, their voices are small compared to the phalanx of behavioral experts who believe the worst place for a person who’s committed a crime is prison.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
20 May 2026
-
Criminal charges against school officials after a school shooting are quite rare, experts say.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
While being held at the Independence Police Department’s detention unit, Ashley allegedly damaged the inside of a cell by smearing feces and blood on the walls and floor.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
19 May 2026
-
But the pigment and gum are largely invisible, because harding and Upkett smeared them with white paint used by the Carnegie Museum to cover its walls.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Bill de Blasio had campaigned against aggressive policing, particularly the city’s controversial policy of briefly detaining people and patting them down for weapons.—
Elizabeth Glazer,
The Atlantic,
19 May 2026
-
Mama pats Rafa’s head then ruffles his hair.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Videos of the Saturday night melee at a Chipotle in the Navy Yard neighborhood showed youths throwing punches and chairs as patrons watched in fear.—
Steve Thompson,
Washington Post,
19 May 2026
-
On Saturday, a mob of teens kicked off a brawl at a Chipotle restaurant in the city's Navy Yard neighborhood, throwing chairs, tables and punches.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Plus, the waterproof design can handle pool splashes, beach trips, and accidental spills without missing a beat.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
-
Hayes avoided a superplex attempt and turned the tables on Saints, hitting a frog splash.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dab. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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