{ "dabbles":{ "to take part in an activity in a superficial way":{ "examples":[ "She dabbled in drawing and painting but sculpture was her favorite medium." ], "synonyms":[], "near synonyms":[ "trifles", "flirts (with)", "fiddles (around)", "messes around", "putters (around)", "amuses", "diverts", "entertains", "delights", "pleases", "bums (around)", "dawdles", "goldbricks", "hangs", "hangs about", "idles", "loafs", "lounges (around or about)", "relaxes", "rests", "screws around", "slacks (off)", "jests", "jokes", "teases", "dallies", "disports", "frolics", "plays", "recreates", "rollicks", "skylarks", "sports", "toys", "cavorts", "frisks", "gambols", "romps" ], "near antonyms":[ "drudges", "labors", "plods", "plugs (away)", "slaves", "strains", "strives", "struggles", "sweats", "toils", "works" ], "antonyms":[] }, "type":[ "verb" ] }, "dabs":{ "a quick thrust":{ "examples":[ "one more quick dab of the brush and he would be finished with his painting" ], "synonyms":[ "digs", "jabs", "lunges", "pokes" ], "near synonyms":[ "punches", "stabs", "sticks", "pushes", "shoves", "jams", "jerks", "jogs", "nudges" ], "near antonyms":[], "antonyms":[] }, "a very small amount":{ "examples":[ "she added a dab of sesame oil to the dressing before pouring it on the salad" ], "synonyms":[ "aces", "bits", "crumbs", "drams", "driblets", "glimmers", "hints", "licks", "little", "mites", "nips", "ounces", "particles", "peanuts", "rays", "scintillas", "scruples", "shades", "shadows", "shreds", "skoshes", "smacks", "smells", "smidgens", "smidgeons", "smidgins", "smidges", "snaps", "soup\u00e7ons", "sparks", "spatters", "specks", "splashes", "spots", "sprinklings", "strains", "streaks", "suspicions", "touches", "traces" ], "near synonyms":[ "hoots", "iotas", "jots", "minima", "minimums", "minims", "modicums", "semblances", "syllables", "tittles", "vestiges", "whits", "atoms", "dots", "flecks", "flyspecks", "grains", "granules", "molecules", "morsels", "motes", "nubbins", "patches", "scraps", "dashes", "drops", "pinches", "parts", "portions", "sections", "bites", "nibbles", "tastes", "handfuls", "handsful", "scatterings", "smatterings", "smatters", "doses", "shots", "chips", "flakes", "fragments", "shards", "shivers", "slivers", "smithereens", "splinters", "tatters", "clippings", "parings", "shavings" ], "near antonyms":[ "abundances", "barrels", "boatloads", "buckets", "bundles", "bushels", "deals", "fistfuls", "gobs", "heaps", "lashings", "lashins", "loads", "lots", "masses", "messes", "mountains", "much", "oodles", "passels", "pecks", "piles", "plenties", "potfuls", "profusions", "quantities", "rafts", "reams", "scads", "stacks", "wads", "wealths", "volumes", "bonanzas", "embarrassments", "excesses", "overabundances", "overages", "overflows", "overkills", "overmuch", "oversupplies", "superabundances", "superfluities", "surfeits", "surpluses", "chunks", "hunks", "lumps", "slabs" ], "antonyms":[] }, "a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument":{ "examples":[ "a bear can knock a man down with a simple dab of his paw" ], "synonyms":[ "bangs", "bashes", "bats", "beats", "belts", "biffs", "blows", "bops", "boxes", "buffets", "busts", "chops", "claps", "clips", "clouts", "cracks", "cuffs", "douses", "fillips", "hacks", "haymakers", "hits", "hooks", "knocks", "larrups", "lashes", "licks", "pelts", "picks", "plumps", "pokes", "pounds", "punches", "raps", "slams", "slaps", "slugs", "smacks", "smashes", "socks", "spanks", "stingers", "stripes", "strokes", "swats", "swipes", "switches", "thuds", "thumps", "thwacks", "wallops", "welts", "whacks", "whams", "whops", "whaps" ], "near synonyms":[ "counterblows", "counter-blows", "counterpunches", "counters", "counterstrokes", "counter-strokes", "body blows", "hands", "kicks", "knees", "lefts", "one-twos", "rabbit punches", "right-handers", "rights", "roundhouses", "shivers", "sidewinders", "sucker punches", "swings", "uppercuts", "crunchers", "kayos", "knockdowns", "knockouts", "KOs", "bastinadoes", "bastinades", "batterings", "beatings", "drubbings", "lickings", "pastings", "thrashings", "wallopings", "whippings", "whips" ], "near antonyms":[], "antonyms":[] }, "a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field":{ "examples":[ "a dab at finding unappreciated collectibles and reselling them at a considerable profit" ], "synonyms":[ "aces", "adepts", "artists", "authorities", "cognoscenti", "connoisseurs", "crackerjacks", "crackajacks", "dab hands", "experts", "fiends", "geeks", "gurus", "hands", "hotshots", "maestros", "maestri", "masters", "mavens", "mavins", "meisters", "past masters", "proficients", "scholars", "sharks", "sharps", "virtuosos", "virtuosi", "whizzes", "wizards" ], "near synonyms":[ "professionals", "pros", "consultants", "hired guns", "specialists", "addicts", "aficionados", "afficionados", "buffs", "devotees", "enthusiasts", "fans", "craftsmen", "journeymen", "all-rounders", "jacks-of-all-trades", "Renaissance men", "mistresses" ], "near antonyms":[ "apprentices", "beginners", "neophytes", "novices", "dabblers", "dilettantes", "dilettanti", "laymen", "nonprofessionals" ], "antonyms":[ "amateurs", "inexperts", "nonexperts" ] }, "as in smears , slathers":{ "examples":[], "synonyms":[], "near synonyms":[ "anoints", "bedaubs", "besmears", "daubs", "plasters", "slathers", "smears", "applies", "lays", "lays on", "spreads", "blankets", "carpets", "coats", "covers", "layers", "mantles", "overlays", "overlies", "overspreads", "sheets", "surfaces" ], "near antonyms":[ "bares", "exposes", "peels", "strips", "uncovers" ], "antonyms":[] }, "as in taps , tips":{ "examples":[], "synonyms":[], "near synonyms":[ "chucks", "claps", "flicks", "pats", "tags", "taps", "tips", "clasps", "clenches", "clings (to)", "clutches", "grasps", "grips", "handles", "holds", "palms", "hits", "knocks", "pounds", "raps", "whacks", "brushes", "grazes", "shaves", "skims", "feels", "touches", "palpates", "palps" ], "near antonyms":[], "antonyms":[] }, "type":[ "noun", "verb" ] }, "dabbing":{ "as in smearing , slathering":{ "examples":[], "synonyms":[], "near synonyms":[ "anointing", "bedaubing", "besmearing", "daubing", "plastering", "slathering", "smearing", "applying", "laying", "laying on", "spreading", "blanketing", "carpeting", "coating", "covering", "layering", "mantling", "overlaying", "overlying", "overspreading", "sheeting", "surfacing" ], "near antonyms":[ "baring", "exposing", "peeling", "stripping", "uncovering" ], "antonyms":[] }, "as in tapping , tipping":{ "examples":[], "synonyms":[], "near synonyms":[ "chucking", "clapping", "flicking", "patting", "tagging", "tapping", "tipping", "clasping", "clenching", "clinging (to)", "clutching", "grasping", "gripping", "handling", "holding", "palming", "hitting", "knocking", "pounding", "rapping", "whacking", "brushing", "grazing", "shaving", "skimming", "feeling", "touching", "palpating", "palping" ], "near antonyms":[], "antonyms":[] }, "type":[ "verb" ] }, "dabble":{ "to take part in an activity in a superficial way":{ "examples":[ "She dabbled in drawing and painting but sculpture was her favorite medium." ], "synonyms":[], "near synonyms":[ "trifle", "flirt (with)", "fiddle (around)", "mess around", "putter (around)", "amuse", "divert", "entertain", "delight", "please", "bum (around)", "dawdle", "goldbrick", "hang", "hang about", "idle", "loaf", "lounge (around or about)", "relax", "rest", "screw around", "slack (off)", "jest", "joke", "tease", "dally", "disport", "frolic", "play", "recreate", "rollick", "skylark", "sport", "toy", "cavort", "frisk", "gambol", "romp" ], "near antonyms":[ "drudge", "labor", "plod", "plug (away)", "slave", "strain", "strive", "struggle", "sweat", "toil", "work" ], "antonyms":[] }, "type":[ "verb" ] }, "dab hand":{ "a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field":{ "examples":[ "a British mystery writer who's an undisputed dab hand at building suspense" ], "synonyms":[ "ace", "adept", "artist", "authority", "cognoscente", "connoisseur", "crackerjack", "crackajack", "dab", "expert", "fiend", "geek", "guru", "hand", "hotshot", "maestro", "master", "maven", "mavin", "meister", "past master", "proficient", "scholar", "shark", "sharp", "virtuoso", "whiz", "wizard" ], "near synonyms":[ "pro", "professional", "consultant", "hired gun", "specialist", "addict", "aficionado", "afficionado", "buff", "devotee", "enthusiast", "fan", "craftsman", "journeyman", "all-rounder", "jack-of-all-trades", "Renaissance man", "mistress" ], "near antonyms":[ "apprentice", "beginner", "neophyte", "novice", "dabbler", "dilettante", "layman", "nonprofessional" ], "antonyms":[ "amateur", "inexpert", "nonexpert" ] }, "type":[ "noun" ] }, "dabblers":{ "a person who regularly or occasionally engages in an activity as a pastime rather than as a profession":{ "examples":[ "he was a dabbler , learning the basics of many arts but mastering none" ], "synonyms":[ "amateurs", "dilettantes", "dilettanti", "hobbyists", "laymen", "nonexperts", "nonprofessionals", "potterers", "putterers", "tinkerers" ], "near synonyms":[ "all-rounders", "generalists", "general practitioners", "jacks-of-all-trades", "aficionados", "afficionados", "buffs", "devotees", "enthusiasts", "fans" ], "near antonyms":[], "antonyms":[ "authorities", "experts", "professionals", "pros", "specialists" ] }, "type":[ "noun" ] }, "dab":{ "a quick thrust":{ "examples":[ "one more quick dab of the brush and he would be finished with his painting" ], "synonyms":[ "dig", "jab", "lunge", "poke" ], "near synonyms":[ "punch", "stab", "stick", "push", "shove", "jam", "jerk", "jog", "nudge" ], "near antonyms":[], "antonyms":[] }, "a very small amount":{ "examples":[ "she added a dab of sesame oil to the dressing before pouring it on the salad" ], "synonyms":[ "ace", "bit", "crumb", "dram", "driblet", "glimmer", "hint", "lick", "little", "mite", "nip", "ounce", "particle", "peanuts", "ray", "scintilla", "scruple", "shade", "shadow", "shred", "skosh", "smack", "smell", "smidgen", "smidgeon", "smidgin", "smidge", "snap", "soup\u00e7on", "spark", "spatter", "speck", "splash", "spot", "sprinkling", "strain", "streak", "suspicion", "tad", "touch", "trace" ], "near synonyms":[ "hoot", "iota", "jot", "minim", "minimum", "modicum", "semblance", "syllable", "tittle", "vestige", "whit", "atom", "dot", "fleck", "flyspeck", "grain", "granule", "molecule", "morsel", "mote", "nubbin", "patch", "scrap", "dash", "drop", "pinch", "part", "portion", "section", "bite", "nibble", "taste", "handful", "scattering", "smatter", "smattering", "dose", "shot", "chip", "flake", "fragment", "shard", "shiver", "sliver", "smithereens", "splinter", "tatter", "clipping", "paring", "shaving" ], "near antonyms":[ "abundance", "barrel", "boatload", "bucket", "bundle", "bushel", "deal", "fistful", "gobs", "heaps", "lashings", "lashins", "loads", "lot", "mass", "mess", "mountain", "much", "oodles", "passel", "peck", "pile", "plenty", "potful", "profusion", "quantity", "raft", "reams", "scads", "stack", "wad", "wealth", "volume", "bonanza", "embarrassment", "excess", "overabundance", "overage", "overflow", "overkill", "overmuch", "oversupply", "superabundance", "superfluity", "surfeit", "surplus", "chunk", "hunk", "lump", "slab" ], "antonyms":[] }, "a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument":{ "examples":[ "a bear can knock a man down with a simple dab of his paw" ], "synonyms":[ "bang", "bash", "bat", "beat", "belt", "biff", "blow", "bop", "box", "buffet", "bust", "chop", "clap", "clip", "clout", "crack", "cuff", "douse", "fillip", "hack", "haymaker", "hit", "hook", "knock", "larrup", "lash", "lick", "pelt", "pick", "plump", "poke", "pound", "punch", "rap", "slam", "slap", "slug", "smack", "smash", "sock", "spank", "stinger", "stripe", "stroke", "swat", "swipe", "switch", "thud", "thump", "thwack", "wallop", "welt", "whack", "wham", "whop", "whap" ], "near synonyms":[ "counter", "counterblow", "counterpunch", "counterstroke", "body blow", "hand", "kick", "knee", "left", "one-two", "rabbit punch", "right", "right-hander", "roundhouse", "shiver", "sidewinder", "sucker punch", "swing", "uppercut", "cruncher", "kayo", "knockdown", "knockout", "KO", "bastinado", "bastinade", "battering", "beating", "bludgeoning", "clobbering", "cudgeling", "cudgelling", "drubbing", "hammering", "lambasting", "licking", "pasting", "pounding", "pummeling", "pummelling", "thrashing", "flogging", "walloping", "whip", "whipping" ], "near antonyms":[], "antonyms":[] }, "a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field":{ "examples":[ "a dab at finding unappreciated collectibles and reselling them at a considerable profit" ], "synonyms":[ "ace", "adept", "artist", "authority", "cognoscente", "connoisseur", "crackerjack", "crackajack", "dab hand", "expert", "fiend", "geek", "guru", "hand", "hotshot", "maestro", "master", "maven", "mavin", "meister", "past master", "proficient", "scholar", "shark", "sharp", "virtuoso", "whiz", "wizard" ], "near synonyms":[ "pro", "professional", "consultant", "hired gun", "specialist", "addict", "aficionado", "afficionado", "buff", "devotee", "enthusiast", "fan", "craftsman", "journeyman", "all-rounder", "jack-of-all-trades", "Renaissance man", "mistress" ], "near antonyms":[ "apprentice", "beginner", "neophyte", "novice", "dabbler", "dilettante", "layman", "nonprofessional" ], "antonyms":[ "amateur", "inexpert", "nonexpert" ] }, "as in smear , slather":{ "examples":[], "synonyms":[], "near synonyms":[ "anoint", "bedaub", "besmear", "daub", "plaster", "slather", "smear", "apply", "lay", "lay on", "spread", "blanket", "carpet", "coat", "cover", "layer", "mantle", "overlay", "overlie", "overspread", "sheet", "surface" ], "near antonyms":[ "bare", "expose", "peel", "strip", "uncover" ], "antonyms":[] }, "as in tap , tip":{ "examples":[], "synonyms":[], "near synonyms":[ "chuck", "clap", "flick", "pat", "tag", "tap", "tip", "clasp", "clench", "cling (to)", "clutch", "grasp", "grip", "handle", "hold", "palm", "hit", "knock", "pound", "rap", "whack", "brush", "graze", "shave", "skim", "feel", "touch", "palp", "palpate" ], "near antonyms":[], "antonyms":[] }, "type":[ "noun", "verb" ] } }