dab 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈdab How to pronounce dab (audio)
Definition of dabnext
1
as in jab
a quick thrust one more quick dab of the brush and he would be finished with his painting

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
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

dab

2 of 3

noun (2)

chiefly British
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dab

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to smear

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
2
as in to pat

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dab
Noun
Smoking was the most common mode of marijuana use, followed by edibles, vaping, dabs, waxes and concentrates, the study found. — Greta Cross, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026 Similarly, calamine lotion or a dab of hydrocortisone cream work well, too. — Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 29 July 2026
Verb
The former president's emotions were also on display when Michelle Obama asked him to look directly at her, and their daughters also dabbed their eyes with tissues. — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 18 June 2026 Simply dab or spray the perfume lightly onto your arm and wait for the alcohol to evaporate since fragrances can take some time to develop on your warm skin. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dab
  1. jab
  2. sprinkling
  3. slap
  4. expert
  5. smear
  6. pat
  7. punch
  8. splash
Noun
  • Mayer had some early success with her jab, but Cameron increasingly took control as the fight progressed and landed the cleaner punches before hurting Mayer with a right hand in the eighth round.
    — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • In 2025, a Kentucky man was killed after he was hit 27 times with a GLOVE by jail employees, on top of 13 jabs from a taser, which ultimately sent him into cardiac arrest.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of jab
Noun
  • Her clothes are simple but bright, with sometimes a bit of shiny thread or a sprinkling of sequins; décolletage is a thing of the future.
    — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • This one promised not only travel-show vibes but, perhaps, a sprinkling of reality TV, another guilty pleasure of mine.
    — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of sprinkling
Noun
  • The gang’s very own holiday is on display when Marshall creates a countdown website for Barney’s next slap.
    — Erin Strecker, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Getting caught circumventing the salary cap isn't some slap-on-the-wrist offense.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of slap
Noun
  • These experts assign ratings after analyzing a company's financials and ability to consistently pay dividends while also seeking capital appreciation.
    — TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Leading the way in court There are dozens of cases across the country surrounding the legal status of prediction sites, and experts believe the matter will eventually be decided by the Supreme Court.
    — Marshall Cohen, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of expert
Verb
  • Darker smears around the crater’s rim contain surface rocks and lunar dust called regolith previously altered by solar winds, micrometeorites, and cosmic radiation over an extended period of time.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The atmosphere works on them a little bit harder and reduces their strength and smears them a little bit more.
    — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of smear
Verb
  • As another period begins, Achord pats Melton on the head and Melton pats his coach on the back.
    — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Chicken should be dry before cooking, so pat it with paper towels just before sautéing.
    — Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of pat
Noun
  • The one-two punch not only validates the once-struggling stock's recent resurgence.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Despite its small stature, this mini table's design—with its dramatic sloping base and softened top—packs a punch.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of punch
Noun
  • Sprouse’s first collections in the mid-1980s made a major splash, melding graffiti prints, a playful ’60s aesthetic, and bright Day-Glo colors that won admirers such as Andy Warhol.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The bagels are the creations of Moreira, who grew up in Argentina but learned quickly how to make bagels that caused a splash.
    — Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of splash

Phrases Containing dab

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dab
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Cite this Entry

“Dab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dab. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dab

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dab

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