as in expert
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field
a British mystery writer who's an undisputed dab hand at building suspense
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Recent Examples of dab hand
The actor and director remains a dab hand at occasion dressing.
—
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2025
All of which curious George, a dab hand at psychological manipulation, coaxes along with the gentlest of nudges.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025
Van Norden, a dab hand with Shakespeare, is a natural for Shaw.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024
Zach is a dab hand at herbal knockout potions and the occasional amateur amputation, and there’s a scene featuring the latter in which Wheatley indulges his twin tastes for deadpan comedy and head-on gross-outs to the extreme.
—BostonGlobe.com, 14 Apr. 2021
In addition to the outfits of the characters in her famous self-portraits, American artist Cindy Sherman is also a dab hand at finds for herself.
—Lily Templeton, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2025
All of which curious George, a dab hand at psychological manipulation, coaxes along with the gentlest of nudges.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025
Van Norden, a dab hand with Shakespeare, is a natural for Shaw.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024
Zach is a dab hand at herbal knockout potions and the occasional amateur amputation, and there’s a scene featuring the latter in which Wheatley indulges his twin tastes for deadpan comedy and head-on gross-outs to the extreme.
—BostonGlobe.com, 14 Apr. 2021
In addition to the outfits of the characters in her famous self-portraits, American artist Cindy Sherman is also a dab hand at finds for herself.
—Lily Templeton, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dab hand
Noun
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There's no exact cause known for the rise in cancers among young people, according to experts, but researchers are trying to figure it out.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Overall, however, experts say there is little regulatory oversight for baby foods sold in the United States.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The center will introduce a new bachelor’s degree in space physics and data science, and a new fast-track master’s degree.—
Samuel O’Neal
February 10,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Holmes, the master scholar-biographer of Coleridge and Shelley, is ideally qualified for such a gig.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In the face of widespread pessimism about the political fate of the United States and growing political polarization, scholars and citizens across the country are reimagining how American democracy could better serve the needs of the whole population.—
Jennifer Lynn McCoy,
The Conversation,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Obviously, as a scholar of the reality-television arts and sciences, this final reason is the most interesting to me.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Meanwhile, Alouette has become an adept of dye recipes.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Animal physiologist Peter Hansen, a professor at the University of Florida who was not involved with the Veronika research, said he’s unsurprised by her adept handling of tools given the high levels of cognition he’s observed in cows.—
Leslie Katz,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For years, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has been a wizard at designing blitzes that fool quarterbacks.—
Sam McDowell
February 5,
Kansas City Star,
5 Feb. 2026
-
That was until April 2016, when Universal Studios Hollywood unveiled its own 200-foot-tall Hogwarts castle inspired by the beloved wizard.—
Kailyn Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Former President Barack Obama's foundation sent support to Bad Bunny ahead of the Latin artist's Super Bowl LV halftime performance in a post that also appeared to counter recent criticism of the show's headliner.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
-
At the halftime show for the Super Bowl — or the ‘Benito Bowl’, or ‘Bad Bunny Bowl’, as many have dubbed it online — Bad Bunny became the first artist to perform a half time show entirely in Spanish.—
Madeleine Schulz,
Vogue,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Suffused with dread and bathed in reverb, the record captures two virtuosos at their most vulnerable.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
23 Jan. 2026
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And the first half was a virtuoso blend of aggressiveness and controlling tempo from Payton, as Nix had a couple of deep shots to Marvin Mims and Lil'Jordan Humphrey, but also controlled the game with his legs.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
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That same buzz has followed him to Brooklyn, when the pizza guru opened a Park Slope outpost in late 2025.—
Andrea Strong,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The great management guru Peter Drucker wrote about the need to observe how people work, identify their needs, and then translate that need into demand for something better.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dab hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dab%20hand. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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