as in entertaining
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as in delighting
to take part in an activity in a superficial way
She dabbled in drawing and painting but sculpture was her favorite medium.
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Recent Examples of dabbling
Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
In terms of a lesser version of that profile, Cincinnati could be dabbling in the 6-foot-4, 240-pound edge market in this draft.
—Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
And while the on-screen action is champagne for the senses, irrepressibly bubbly and bright, its themes are on the serious side, dabbling in desperation, reinvention, and forgiveness.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
Cassie is now a bored California housewife-to-be, dabbling in OnlyFans for extra money for her blowout wedding, and Maddy, a promising talent agent with a nose for spotting clients who can make her a killing.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dabbling
Verb
Looking at these deals tells you that this is not a company dabbling in data centers.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
In terms of a lesser version of that profile, Cincinnati could be dabbling in the 6-foot-4, 240-pound edge market in this draft.
—Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
And while the on-screen action is champagne for the senses, irrepressibly bubbly and bright, its themes are on the serious side, dabbling in desperation, reinvention, and forgiveness.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
Cassie is now a bored California housewife-to-be, dabbling in OnlyFans for extra money for her blowout wedding, and Maddy, a promising talent agent with a nose for spotting clients who can make her a killing.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dabbling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dabbling
Adjective
-
Sports are supposed to be entertaining.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
-
The two had an emotional embrace after the fight, which was far more entertaining than the fight itself.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
17 May 2026
Verb
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After decades of delighting fans with her brilliant performances in comedies like Private Benjamin, Overboard and The First Wives Club, Hawn is turning to a different medium to spread the power of positivity.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
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The rise of Bernie Sanders’ preferred Senate candidate in Michigan is frustrating moderates, delighting progressives, and testing the sway of Democratic leaders in a race that will likely determine the party’s shot at a Senate majority.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But the goofier parts of Over Your Dead Body offer some hope for the future.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
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There’s a steadiness to Tung/Wonder Woman that stands out for its quiet authority in a frequently goofy landscape peppered with poisonous robes and finger-eating minions.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At a press conference Wednesday announcing the bill, lawmakers cited studies showing that the cost of playing youth sports has risen by 46% in five years, with many families paying more than $5,000 per child for a single season.—
Kenny Jacoby,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
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The 16-year-old Sullivan collected his first career MLS goal, playing a cross to Ben Bender and finishing the return pass to cut the deficit to 3-2.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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Work with that element of chance because learning to enjoy embracing—working with it—is fun and fun isn’t logical, and logic isn’t always your ally in that initial stage of creation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
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There are plenty of fun activities to keep you busy—beyond the swim-up bar.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
Verb
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The podcast added its own layer of lighthearted commentary, signaling that even those closest to the Kelce family found the coverage amusing rather than newsworthy.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
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The podcast, which has become a cultural touchstone in its own right, signaled that even those closest to the Kelce family found the coverage amusing rather than newsworthy.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Joy is not frivolous, pleasure is not shallow, and connection is not optional.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
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The producers tried to throw out the estate’s complaint under California’s anti-SLAPP statute, which is intended to protect free speech against frivolous litigation.—
Anna Tingley,
Variety,
12 May 2026
Verb
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But that still left the less-than-trifling matter of the second tier’s title to settle, as the teams were locked together on 97 points with one game still to play.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
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The rise may seem trifling, but staffers work long hours, and a caffeine budget is a necessity.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dabbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dabbling. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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