indentation

noun

ˌin-ˌden-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce indentation (audio)
Definition of indentationnext
1
as in dent
a sunken area forming a separate space the previous occupant's furniture had left some fairly noticeable indentations in the carpet

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in indent
a V-shaped cut usually on an edge or a surface deep indentations along the edge of the leaf

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 indentation Just grab the knob on the line, stretch it to the opposite end, and secure it in place on the base end that has a hole with a small indentation to pop it in and out in a second. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 21 June 2026 Circular indentations are present on the gall’s surface, through which bizarre looking telial horns protrude in the spring the year after the host is first inoculated with the disease. — Emily Leahy, Hartford Courant, 30 May 2026 Roth, who also shares her daughter, Hazel, 6, with husband Brett Roth, explained that her daughter fell off the couch and hit her head on the coffee table, causing an indentation where her eyebrow is supposed to be. — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026 Like the experimental teeth, the ones from Neanderthal archaeological sites had the same overlapping small fractures, shallow indentations, and shallow scratches. — ArsTechnica, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for indentation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indentation
  1. dent
  2. indent
  3. hole
  4. chip
  5. cavity
  6. slit
  7. pit
  8. groove
Noun
  • However, Norman Powell appears likely to leave in free agency, and paired with the loss of Herro, that puts a serious dent in the team’s non-Antetokounmpo/Bam Adebayo arsenal.
    — Juan Carlos Blanco, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • The Padres will get four more games in Los Angeles next week to put a dent in those numbers.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 29 June 2026
Definition of dent
Noun
  • Indulge in a bit of kitsch with their oyster plate, where each indent takes the shape of a finned friend.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 9 June 2026
  • There’s nothing more annoying than unsightly indents in your carpet that are suddenly exposed.
    — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 23 Apr. 2026
Definition of indent
Noun
  • Mozeliak said the Angels should not consider a trade proposal in isolation, without considering how to flex their major-market muscles to fill whatever hole a trade might create.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • The difference between these two measurements gives the exciton binding energy, a key quantity that determines how strongly the electron and hole remain bound together.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 5 July 2026
Definition of hole
Noun
  • Intel’s Lip-Bu Tan, who met Modi last December, also signed up as a prospective buyer for chips made by Tata Electronics.
    — Kai Nicol-Schwarz,Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 4 July 2026
  • Bring along a bag of your favorite chips for dipping and enjoy!
    — Patricia S York, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
Definition of chip
Noun
  • The pair were pushed into the body wherever swelling threatened a patient’s health, or exploration of an inner cavity was warranted.
    — Katherine Ott, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
  • Other signals worth flagging to a dentist include bleeding or tender gums during brushing or flossing, frequent canker sores, an unusually dry mouth and a rising rate of new cavities despite consistent hygiene.
    — Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 July 2026
Definition of cavity
Noun
  • The skirt’s front slit detail looks polished, while allowing for easy movement and extra breathability.
    — Melony Forcier, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
  • The sleeveless gown featured a semi-sheer corset bodice with a curtain of lace foliage that cascaded down past the thigh-high slit, forming an elegant silhouette.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 5 July 2026
Definition of slit
Noun
  • Weeks before the fire pit incident, Robinson alleges that during a trip to Nashville to visit her grandfather who was in hospice care and has since died, Sandoval pushed her to the floor of their hotel and locked her out of their shared room.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • High-rise handlebars, upright ergonomics, and generous suspension travel give them the look of pit bikes that somehow escaped onto public roads.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 July 2026
Definition of pit
Noun
  • That said, Chicagoland has been a great track for multiple lanes of racing, and the Next Gen car loves having extra grooves to work with.
    — Jess Bryant, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • Wall Street heads into the first full week of July trading with interest rates in mind, as the summary of the Federal Reserve’s meeting last month push yields higher and throw of stocks’ groove.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 2 July 2026
Definition of groove

Browse Nearby Words

indent
indentation
indentations
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Cite this Entry

“Indentation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indentation. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on indentation

Nglish: Translation of indentation for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about indentation

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