Applies gently
The crossword clue "Applies gently" is answered by DABS, a 4-letter entry. Used 22 times across 16 distinct years; most recently in 2026; first recorded in 1997. It appears in 9 publications in the xd corpus. Every figure on this page comes from the collection data itself.
The answer
DABS
4 letters. See every clue for this answer on the DABS answer page.
Used 22 times across 16 distinct years; most recently in 2026; first recorded in 1997. It appears in 9 publications in the xd corpus. Frequency and last-seen figures come from the xd crossword corpus only.
Other answers for this clue
The same clue has also been answered these ways in the xd corpus. Answers inside this collection link to their own answer page.
- DABSON (1 uses in xd)
Other clues for DABS
Every other clue in this collection answered by DABS, most used first.
- Applies lightly - used 30 times, most recently in 2025
- Small amounts - used 22 times, most recently in 2023
Related clues
Clues in this collection of the same answer length that share a word with this clue, or match its answer pattern when no word is shared. Most used first.
- Float gently - WAFT, used 29 times
- Persuade gently - COAX, used 27 times
- Gently persuade - COAX, used 23 times
- Throw gently - TOSS, used 22 times
Search the clue collection
Search by clue words or by answer, or type a pattern with the letters you have and a blank for each square you do not know. The characters _ ? . and - all work as blanks.