Kansas is smack dab in the middle of the US.
Source: tatoeba (741579)
Dab
/dæb/
Synonyms for "dab" (256 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (52)
Strong matches (76)
Related words (128)
mastermavenminimminimumminutiaemitemodicummoleculemotemownutshelloilouncepaintpargetparticlepatpatchpebblepeck
Show 83 more words
pickpigmentpinchpittanceplaneplanishplasterpointpokeprimeprofessionalproficientrapscrapscrupleshadeshadowshaveshellacslap onslatherslop on paintsmarmsmearsmear onsmidgensmidginsmirchsmitchsmoothsmooth downsmooth outsmouchsmudgesmutsmutchsnapspatterspeckspecklesplashsplattersplotchspoonfulspotspreadspread onspread withstainstigmastipplesuggestionswelltainttamptangtaptartarnishthimblefultickletincttincturetingetinttiny bittiptittletonetouchtracetrifletrifling amounttriviatryundercoatvarnishwashwhiskwhitwhitewashwhizwizard
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: pat, tap, ace, adept, aftershaves.
- Sentence evidence is available for dab, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "dab".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "dab"
Keep "dab" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "dab" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "dab", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "dab" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
24 entriesShowing 16 of 24 words.
More specific
15 entriesbutter dabcommon dabconcealer dabexperimentfeathery touchgentle patglue dablipstick dabointment dabpaint dabpatsand dabsoft stroketaptrial
Collocations
12 entriescommon dabconcealer dabdab atdab handdab of butterdab of gluedab of paintdab onink dablipstick dabointment dabsoft dab
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
1 entriesTranslations
22 translations across 11 languages.
Bulgarian
3 entries- мазка noun (small amount, blob)
- мацвам verb (apply softly tapping)
- цапвам verb (apply softly tapping)
Chinese Mandarin
1 entries- 敷 verb (apply softly tapping)
Czech
4 entries- drobet noun (small amount, blob)
- kapka noun (small amount, blob)
- krapet noun (small amount, blob)
- trošička noun (small amount, blob)
Esperanto
1 entries- dabi verb (apply softly tapping)
Finnish
2 entries- nokare noun (small amount, blob)
- tippa noun (small amount, blob)
German
3 entries- Klacks noun (small amount, blob)
- Klecks noun (small amount, blob)
- auftupfen verb (apply softly tapping)
Greek
1 entries- μικροποσότητα noun (small amount, blob)
Irish
1 entries- daba noun (small amount, blob)
Portuguese
1 entries- aplicar de leve verb (apply softly tapping)
Swedish
1 entries- klick noun (small amount, blob)
Ukrainian
2 entries- примо́чувати verb (apply softly tapping)
- примочи́ти verb (apply softly tapping)
Sample sentences
31 total sentences available.
Tom is a dab hand at cooking.
Source: tatoeba (5667902)
Tom did a dab to celebrate the legalization of cannabis in New York.
Source: tatoeba (9940593)
My girlfriend is doing a dab.
Source: tatoeba (9955598)
Showing 4 of 31 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "dab"?
Closest matches include pat, tap, ace, adept, aftershaves.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "dab"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.