dabbled

verb

past tense of dabble
as in delighted
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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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 dabbled Paine, who works in technology by day — and intends to keep that career — has dabbled in winemaking for many years during his world military travels. — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026 The unit also dabbled in artificial intelligence, which Hegseth has been pushing, and designing drones resistant to jamming. — ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026 After years of being a defensive specialist who dabbled in being a playmaker, rebounder and opportunistic scorer, the 29-year-old has emerged as a bonafide bucket-getter for a team with title aspirations in just its second season of existence. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026 Cassie, on the other hand, has dabbled in glam makeup and is always trying new things to get male attention. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026 The app has also dabbled in other games including word games, quizzes and a Wheel of Fortune title. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026 The couple dabbled in private catering and omakase experiences across Dallas and Fort Worth. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026 Henry is a musician and has dabbled in acting, including roles on White House Plumbers and Dinner with the Parents, while Charlie is an actor who’s appeared on Single Drunk Female, The Sex Lives of College Girls and The White Lotus. — Alexandra Schonfeld, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026 Arteta has dabbled with two-man strike partnerships, but that has never been his go-to setup. — Art De Roché, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dabbled
  1. delighted
  2. entertained
  3. played
  4. amused
  5. trifled
Verb
  • Their remarks earned cheers and applause, which delighted Demos.
    — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
  • In Darwin’s time violet helleborines didn’t grow around Down House—they’ve been introduced by the gardeners—but Darwin would have been delighted.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of delighted
Verb
  • The two men have entertained them by doing cartwheels, blowing bubbles and playing tag.
    — Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026
  • In the early ‘60s, the Tower Theater’s films entertained Cuban refugees and introduced them to American culture, making the theater a cultural cornerstone for the local Cuban community.
    — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of entertained
Verb
  • Jack Coleman, who played her father on the NBC drama, shared an emotional tribute on Instagram.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The Hunger Games prequel Sunrise on the Reaping is taking fans of the dystopian franchise back to Panem for the Second Quarter Quell, in which one Haymitch Abernathy (now played by Aussie actor Joseph Zada) will be forced to fight for his life.
    — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of played
Verb
  • Horgan ended up incorporating some of those videos—AI slop of dogs blowing up houses with laser beam eyes, for instance—which amused Murphy.
    — Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Students were especially amused that AI had John Singer, who acts as a hub connecting all the other characters, speaking on a variety of subjects.
    — Billy J. Stratton, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of amused
Verb
  • Meek lives with her dad, Smooch (Will Cobbs), a former Black Panther who now runs a roller rink, and her not-to-be-trifled-with grandma, Puddin (Lizan Mitchell).
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2026
Definition of trifled

Browse Nearby Words

dabble
dabbled
dabbler
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Cite this Entry

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

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