Dent vs. Dint — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 1, 2023
A "Dent" is a small depression or hollow in a surface, often caused by impact. "Dint" can also mean a dent, but more commonly refers to force or effort. Both words can convey indentation, but their contexts vary.
Difference Between Dent and Dint
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Key Differences
Dent typically refers to a small hollow or depression in a surface, often resulting from an impact or pressure. It's a term commonly used in contexts like automotive repairs, where a vehicle might get a "dent" from a minor accident. Dint, while sometimes used synonymously with "dent" in older texts, often means force or effort in modern usage.
Imagine a car door. If it gets hit by, say, a shopping cart, it might have a Dent in it. The physical indentation or depression on the door is the "dent." However, if someone says they achieved something "by dint of hard work," they're using Dint to refer to the means or effort through which something was accomplished.
In terms of etymology, both Dent and Dint have origins related to striking or hitting, which is why they can sometimes overlap in meaning. However, the modern primary usage of Dent is more related to the resultant mark or damage, whereas Dint leans towards the effort or force aspect.
In everyday American English, you're more likely to encounter Dent when discussing a visible indentation on an object. Dint, on the other hand, appears less frequently, and when it does, it's often in the context of achieving something through effort or force.
It's worth noting that while both Dent and Dint can convey the idea of an indentation, the contexts in which they're used, and the nuances they bring to a sentence, are distinct.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
Depression in a surface
Force or effort
Common Context
Automotive, physical damage
Achieving through effort or means
Etymology
Related to a strike or hit
Originally meant strike, now leans to force
Usage Frequency
Commonly used
Less frequent
Synonymous Use
Directly refers to indentation
Can mean dent, but more commonly force/effort
Compare with Definitions
Dent
A small depression in a surface
The car had a noticeable Dent from the accident.
Dint
Force or effort
She passed the exam by Dint of her hard work.
Dent
Damage to reputation
The scandal put a Dent in his credibility.
Dint
To make an indentation
The impact Dinted the metal surface.
Dent
To make an impression
The workshop didn't even Dent her exhaustive energy.
Dint
A blow or strike
The armor had a Dint from the combat.
Dent
A depression in a surface made by pressure or a blow
A dent in the side of a car.
Dint
Means or method
By Dint of persuasion, he got the approval.
Dent
(Informal) A significant, usually diminishing effect or impression
The loss put a dent in the team's confidence.
Dint
Force or effort; power
Succeeded by dint of hard work.
Dent
(Informal) Meaningful progress; headway
At least made a dent in the work.
Dint
A dent.
Dent
See tooth.
Dint
To put a dent in.
Dent
To make a dent in.
Dint
To impress or drive in forcibly.
Dent
To become dented
A fender that dents easily.
Dint
(obsolete) A blow, stroke, especially dealt in a fight.
Dent
A shallow deformation in the surface of an object, produced by an impact.
The crash produced a dent in the left side of the car.
Dint
Force, power; especially in by dint of.
Dent
(figurative) A minor impact or effect made upon something.
To make a dent
Dint
The mark left by a blow; an indentation or impression made by violence; a dent.
Dent
A type of maize/corn with a relatively soft outer hull, and a soft type of starch that shrinks at maturity to leave an indentation in the surface of the kernel.
Dint
To dent.
Dent
A sudden negative change, such as loss, damage, weakening, consumption or diminution, especially one produced by an external force, event or action
That purchase put a bit of a dent in my wallet.
Dint
A blow; a stroke.
Dent
(engineering) A tooth, as of a card, a gear wheel, etc.
Dint
The mark left by a blow; an indentation or impression made by violence; a dent.
Every dint a sword had beaten in it [the shield].
Dent
(weaving) A slot or a wire in a reed
Dint
Force; power; - esp. in the phrase by dint of.
Now you weep; and, I perceive, you feelThe dint of pity.
It was by dint of passing strengthThat he moved the massy stone at length.
Dent
(transitive) To impact something, producing a dent.
Dint
To make a mark or cavity on or in, by a blow or by pressure; to dent.
Dent
(intransitive) To develop a dent or dents.
Copper is soft and dents easily.
Dint
Interchangeable with `means' in the expression `by dint of'
Dent
A stroke; a blow.
Dint
A dent or impression
The shield bore the Dint of many battles.
Dent
A slight depression, or small notch or hollow, made by a blow or by pressure; an indentation.
A blow that would have made a dent in a pound of butter.
Dent
A tooth, as of a card, a gear wheel, etc.
Dent
To make a dent upon; to indent.
The houses dented with bullets.
Dent
An appreciable consequence (especially a lessening);
It made a dent in my bank account
Dent
A depression scratched or carved into a surface
Dent
An impression in a surface (as made by a blow)
Dent
Make a depression into;
The bicycle dented my car
Dent
A significant reduction
The new policy made a Dent in monthly expenses.
Dent
To notch or hollow out
The artist Dented the clay to add texture.
Common Curiosities
Does Dint always refer to effort?
Often, but it can also mean a physical indentation.
Is a Dent always caused by an impact?
Typically, yes, but it can also represent figurative impact, like on reputation.
Can a scandal cause a Dent?
Yes, figuratively, on one's reputation.
Is "by dint of" a common phrase?
It's less common in casual conversation but appears in formal contexts.
Is Dint often used in modern English?
Less so than Dent, and often in specific phrases or literary contexts.
Can I use Dent and Dint interchangeably?
Not always. While they can both mean indentation, their primary usages differ.
Does Dint have older origins?
Both words have old origins, but "Dint" as "effort" is a more archaic usage.
Is Dent more commonly used?
Yes, especially in contexts of physical indentation.
Can something "dent" one's enthusiasm?
Yes, meaning it can reduce or impact enthusiasm.
What's the verb form of Dent?
"Dent" can also be a verb, as in "to dent something."
Can "dent" refer to a reduction in numbers?
Yes, like making a "dent" in expenses.
Is "by dint of" a set phrase?
Yes, it means "by means of" or "through the effort of."
Is a "dint" always deep?
Not necessarily; it can be shallow.
Can you "dint" metal?
Yes, "dint" can mean to make an indentation in something.
Can a Dent be repaired?
In many contexts, yes, like in auto repair.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
