1
: a depression or hollow made by a blow or by pressure
2
: an appreciable impression or effect often made against resistance
hasn't made a dent in the problem
specifically
: a weakening or lessening effect
costs that have made a dent in the budget
Synonyms
Examples of dent in a Sentence
Verb
I'm afraid I dented the wall pretty badly when I was hammering in that nail.
Many of the cans were badly dented.
Some types of metal dent more easily than others.
The team's confidence has been dented by a recent series of losses.
Noun (1)
there was a big dent in the car's hood where something had hit it
a little belt-tightening would at least make a small dent in our credit-card debt
Recent Examples on the Web
Mike Ives, New York Times, 29 Jan. 2025
With no monthly fees, this deal ensures premium home security without denting your wallet.
—Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 14 Jan. 2025
Kiana Murden, Vogue, 7 Feb. 2025
Photos often show the exact device, including any scratches, dents or screen damage.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for dent 
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Verb
This year a typhoon and extreme heat dented the harvest, scrambling prices for kumquats and other ornamental plants associated with the holiday, known as Tet in Vietnam.
—Mike Ives, New York Times, 29 Jan. 2025
With no monthly fees, this deal ensures premium home security without denting your wallet.
—Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
First things first: acne scars are a combination of pigmentation left over from inflammation and the dents in the skin left behind after acne breakouts.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 7 Feb. 2025
Photos often show the exact device, including any scratches, dents or screen damage.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for dent
Dictionary Entries Near dent
Cite this Entry
“Dent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dent. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dent
1 of 2 verb1
: to make a dent in or on
2
: to become marked by a dent
dent
2 of 2 noun1
: a notch or hollow made by a blow or by pressure
2
a
: an impression or effect made usually against resistance
that purchase made a big dent in our savings
b
: noticeable progress
made a dent in our pile of work
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