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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of dab
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 June 2026
The neighborhood/area Park Hyatt is smack dab in the center of District 1, steps from the Saigon Opera House.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Simply rub the cut side of the tomato on your fingers or dab some of the juice onto your hands.
—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dab
Noun
France is home to UCF edge rusher Aymeric Koumba, specifically Bordeaux, which is smack dab in the middle of one of the best wine-making regions with award-winning vineyards.
—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 June 2026
The neighborhood/area Park Hyatt is smack dab in the center of District 1, steps from the Saigon Opera House.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
Instead, this cover stick is easy to dab onto your face with only your fingertips.
—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Simply rub the cut side of the tomato on your fingers or dab some of the juice onto your hands.
—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dab
Noun
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Records of public meetings and community newspapers feature jabs at how far these sorry kinsmen have strayed from their heritage.
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With a subtle jab at city life there, Deuso is making history in a community that doesn't even seem to notice.
Noun
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Use Natural Deterrents From Your Pantry To keep the rodents out of your yard for long periods, Schoenberg recommends sprinkling deterrents like hot cayenne, garlic, apple cider, peppermint, or coffee grounds around your plants and gardens.
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Peppers followed, along with a healthy sprinkling of spices.
Noun
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DeTiger also discusses working with Caroline Polachek, Chromeo and Stargate, the viral videos that launched her career, the influence of Rush’s Geddy Lee and developing her signature slap bass style.
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Morgan responded with a slap and brush off of the voodoo.
Noun
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Legislative expert and law professor Chris Micheli said lawmakers frequently include controversial provisions in bills during the early stages of the legislative process.
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Given the significance of the peace deal, experts said Pakistan will certainly want to leverage its mediation role for economic benefit, particularly in its dealings with allies in Washington and the Gulf.
Verb
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The restaurant sources its birotes from Duran’s to make the open-face, bean and cheese-smeared breakfast sandwiches popular throughout Mexico.
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That slows down the process of multiple shockwaves merging into larger ones and allows the atmosphere to weaken the smaller shockwaves to smear out the sharp pressure change into a more gradual increase.
Verb
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Been shooting some nice low scores in these last couple weeks outs here, so that’s something good to pat myself on the back.
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One of his lawyers, Benjamin Zeman, patted the director's back.
Noun
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The throat punch is just the latest in a string of controversial moments, where fans became concerned over Clark's wellbeing and treatment by other players.
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Professional wrestling violence is normally scripted, with both parties agreeing to hit each other with punches, kicks, throws and sometimes weapons to tell a violent story in the ring or on camera.
Noun
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Mysterio came back with a baseball slide into a splash on the outside.
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Betts is making his splash at the plate again.
Cite this Entry
“Dab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dab. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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