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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of dab
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2024
In some cases, Dr. Zeichner says that dryness inside your nose could also disrupt your skin barrier and possibly irritate your zit—which is why adding a bit of hydration (with a small dab of petroleum jelly or a gentle, noncomedogenic cream) can help soothe the spot.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 1 Nov. 2024
Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
Luna rocked a black and red creepy clown look, while Miles dressed up and dabbed as DJ Marshmello.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 25 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dab 
Noun
Prepare the Garment for Washing Use a dab of wool wash to pretreat stains.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2024
In some cases, Dr. Zeichner says that dryness inside your nose could also disrupt your skin barrier and possibly irritate your zit—which is why adding a bit of hydration (with a small dab of petroleum jelly or a gentle, noncomedogenic cream) can help soothe the spot.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 1 Nov. 2024
Verb
Upholstery stains can be cleaned by dabbing the area with warm, soapy water.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
Luna rocked a black and red creepy clown look, while Miles dressed up and dabbed as DJ Marshmello.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 25 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dab
Verb
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Yet before those convoys even made their way to the capital, Trudeau, his ministers, and their contacts in the media, were conspiring to smear the protesters as violent extremists bent on bringing a January 6 north to Canada.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
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Now this journalist is accused of helping smear the star.Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The England midfielder took particular notice of one boy amid the scrum, who was clearly overwhelmed with excitement at the prospect of meeting Bellingham and kept patting the player on the shoulder, asking for his training top.Guillermo Rai, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
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Chopra smiled at the camera while patting Malti’s head.Escher Walcott, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The paintings of Mickalene Thomas are big, bold, gaudy, and beautiful, embedded with rhinestones, daubed with phosphorescent color, and composed like crazy quilts.Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2025
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No one apart from the ultras, daubing new withering slogans on bed sheets to be carried into San Siro for the next league game against Cagliari.James Horncastle, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a senator from Ohio after being tapped to be Trump's running mate, was seated in the front row during the count.Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 6 Jan. 2025
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In many ways, Coors Field is the blueprint for successful pro sports ownership in the 21st century — a franchise profiting from a venue in a vibrant neighborhood that taps into multiple revenue streams and sustains the entire enterprise year-round.Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Anyone else who made the sandwich for him slathered equal parts peanut butter and jelly.Matt Schneidman, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
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After an assessment, I’m slathered with oils infused with restorative yarrow, St. John’s Wort, and cypress—a bespoke blend tailored to my air and fire sign-dominate skin.Julia Eskins, Vogue, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The evening's lineup, though not as directly specific to a vibe or style as 2023's Southern rock-friendly bill of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Lainey Wilson, Elle King, Grace Bowers and Jackson Dean, did tip a hat to the breadth of country's cultural reach in 2025.Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 1 Jan. 2025
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Special teams tipped the outcome toward the Bruins in the Rose Bowl.Scott Dochterman, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Stickers plastered around Siana’s drill sites — on which the company’s name is misspelled — provide phone numbers to call in case of leaks or other emergencies.Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 30 Dec. 2024
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Many of the companies advertising in Dodger Stadium now had signage plastered all over Angel Stadium before.Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Bipartisanship was in the air as a few Democrats joined all Republicans in clapping for the reading of Trump’s electoral votes, and Republicans, in turn, clapped politely for Harris’s votes as well.Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 6 Jan. 2025
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The camera switches back to the crowd and Neenah Nation is on their feet, clapping and smiling and having a helluva time.John Nogowski, Hartford Courant, 3 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Dab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dab. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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