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
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
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
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
Van Norden, a dab hand with Shakespeare, is a natural for Shaw.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024
Benedict, meanwhile, is an expert colorist, a dab hand with print who knows all about decorative drama.
—Grace McCloud, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2023
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
Sarah, a dab hand at deflecting sexism and maintaining her professional composure, takes the microphone and expresses her excitement at being on board.
—Justin Chang Film Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2020
That, perhaps, is a little less in the bag, but the Kremlin’s operatives are dab hands at suppressing protests and neutering the press.
—The Economist, 12 Mar. 2020
Lily Templeton, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019
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
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
Van Norden, a dab hand with Shakespeare, is a natural for Shaw.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024
Benedict, meanwhile, is an expert colorist, a dab hand with print who knows all about decorative drama.
—Grace McCloud, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2023
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
Sarah, a dab hand at deflecting sexism and maintaining her professional composure, takes the microphone and expresses her excitement at being on board.
—Justin Chang Film Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2020
That, perhaps, is a little less in the bag, but the Kremlin’s operatives are dab hands at suppressing protests and neutering the press.
—The Economist, 12 Mar. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dab hand
Noun
-
Legal experts on religion cases expect the court will side with the Rastafarian.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
2 Aug. 2025
-
An emergency mental health crisis hold isn’t enough to stop someone from buying a gun, though, according to experts who spoke to the Review Journal.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
There’s also a potential downside to the biggest upside: ownership of the masters.—
Todd Longwell,
Variety,
30 July 2025
-
Thomas grew up in Hartford, graduated from East Catholic High School in 1965 and later got a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of New Haven, according to his obituary.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
29 July 2025
Noun
-
But true seasonal scholars know autumn actually begins when Bath & Body Works drops their fall candle collection—and something inside us shifts.—
Katie Ann Lehman,
StyleCaster,
25 July 2025
-
International conferences dedicated to the genre attract dancers, musicians and scholars from around the world.—
Wilfredo José Burgos Matos,
The Conversation,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
The digital adept also had a nearly eight-year stretch at Teen Vogue.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2019
-
Slot shares this staple of Tottenham counterpart Ange Postecoglou’s attacking principles, with Porro adept at tucking inside to disrupt the opposition shape.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Much of Superman's second act is spent inside a 'pocket dimension' used by Lex Luthor and his LuthorCorp scientists and tech wizards.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
17 July 2025
-
The company announced a TV series based on all seven books about the boy wizard written by J.K. Rowling.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
Shops will host artists, and there will be pop-up bars and live music.—
Caroline Ritzie,
The Enquirer,
24 July 2025
-
Kingfish was born there with contemporary blues artists like Ghalia Volt spending time there.—
Jim Ryan,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
But the question remained: Why would one of music’s most acclaimed and elusive virtuosos take a high school gig from this kid at all?—
David Kushner,
Rolling Stone,
20 July 2025
-
An international accordion virtuoso will perform at 7:30 p.m. July 21 in the Normandy Room of the Elmhurst American Legion Post, 310 W. Butterfield Road, Elmhurst.—
Melinda Moore,
Chicago Tribune,
17 July 2025
Noun
-
Now, Amy Odell is digging deeper into the actress turned guru’s varied life and career in her new biography, Gwyneth, out now.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
29 July 2025
-
Pascal placed his full faith in the Hollywood strength guru, who had experience with post-injury training.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dab hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dab%20hand. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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