dint

1 of 2

noun

ˈdint How to pronounce dint (audio)
Synonyms of dint
1
: force, power
2
: dent entry 2
3
archaic : blow, stroke
see also:
by dint of

dint

2 of 2

verb

dinted; dinting; dints

transitive verb

1
: to make a dent in
2
: to impress or drive in with force

Synonyms of dint

Relevance

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of dint in a Sentence

Noun left a small dint in the car's fender
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
But, by dint of its story and its subject, the movie also feels like part of a broader cinematic conversation. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026 Not just by dint of wealth, though that helps, but because the region is carved up into separate jurisdictions with seemingly no logic. — Meghan Daum, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
Verb
Then he was moved to the second unit, which seemed to dint his confidence. — Patrick Murray, Forbes, 23 May 2021 But as similar fights play out in battleground states, including Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, and Michigan, repeated complaints about fraud could dint public faith in the electoral process. — Max Thornberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 3 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for dint

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English dynt; akin to Old Norse dyntr noise

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dint was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing dint

Rhymes for dint

See All Rhymes for dint

Browse Nearby Words

DIN system
dint
dinucleotide
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dint. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

dint

1 of 2 noun
ˈdint How to pronounce dint (audio)
1
: the force or power of something
—used chiefly in the phrase by dint of
succeeded by dint of hard work
2
: dent entry 2 sense 1

dint

2 of 2 verb
: dent entry 1 sense 1
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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