dint

[dint]

noun

1. force; power.

   By dint of hard work she became head of the company.

   Synonyms: struggle, exertion, strain, effort

2. a dent.

3. Archaic.,  a blow; stroke.

verb (used with object)

1. to make a dent or dents in.

2. to impress or drive in with force.

dint

/ dɪnt /

noun

1. by means or use of

   by dint of hard work

2. archaic,  a blow or a mark made by a blow

verb

1. (tr) to mark with dints

noun

1. a variant of dent 1

Other Word Forms

• dintless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dint¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English dynt; cognate with Old Norse dyntr

Word History and Origins

Origin of dint¹

Old English dynt; related to Old Norse dyttr blow

Idioms and Phrases

see by dint of.

Example Sentences

There have been upsets in the past - fans of Rage Against the Machine's Killing in the Name put a small-but-welcome dint in the X Factor monopoly in 2009.

From BBC

Roigard took an early dint in the destruction derby of Test rugby, but, patched up and tuned up, he looks set to hit clean air.

From BBC

But America matters by dint of its economic and military strength, and its major role in many alliances.

From BBC

But through sheer dint of numbers, even well-intentioned visitors can be a burden.

From Los Angeles Times

Norman Haynes, who for years was Voyager’s overall project manager, once said that Dr. Stone, by dint of his scientific expertise and management skill, “revolutionized the world of project science.”

From New York Times