dampen

verb

damp·en | \ ˈdam-pən

dampened; dampening\ ˈdamp-niŋ

, ˈdam-pə- \

Definition of dampen

transitive verb

1 : to check or diminish the activity or vigor of : deaden the heat dampened our spirits

2 : to make damp the shower barely dampened the ground

3 : damp sense 1c

intransitive verb

1 : to become damp

2 : to become deadened or depressed

Other Words from dampen Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about dampen

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Synonyms & Antonyms for dampen

Synonyms

bedew, damp, moisten

Antonyms

dry

Examples of dampen in a Sentence

Dampen the spot with a wet cloth. The shower barely dampened the ground. We wouldn't let the bad weather dampen our excitement.

Recent Examples on the Web

That helped dampen expectations before the World Cup, and few thought the team would advance deep into the tournament, let alone win it. — Ceylan Yeginsu, New York Times, "World Cup Brings England Together at a Time of Division," 10 July 2018 France’s economy grew 1.5% in 2018, a significant slowdown from 2.3% in 2017, Insee statistics agency said in a first estimate, as months of antigovernment protests dampened consumer spending and business investment. — Paul Hannon, WSJ, "Political Malaise Drags Down Europe’s Growth," 30 Jan. 2019 To use it, follow these steps: Put a small amount on a clean cloth, dampened if necessary. — Lauren Smith, Good Housekeeping, "How to Clean Silver and Prevent Tarnish," 20 Nov. 2018 The only worry is a rise in interest rates, which would dampen demand. — Phillip Molnar, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Econometer: Are we approaching housing bubble territory?," 26 Apr. 2018 Scoop out and press the remaining dough into the prepared pan using dampened hands or the back of a spoon. — Marley Marius, Vogue, "Here’s How to Make 2018’s Most-Googled Food," 12 Dec. 2018 Makeup artist Ashleigh Ciucci advises dotting foundation on the back of your hand after dampening the sponge, then tapping the Beautyblender into the product to absorb. — Tiffany Dodson, SELF, "Here Is Everything You Can (and Should) Use a Beautyblender For," 11 Oct. 2018 Lisa Vickery, an attorney at Fisher Phillips who represents management in labor cases, believes a hit to union coffers could dampen those initiatives. — Alexia Elejalde-ruiz, chicagotribune.com, "Supreme Court's Janus ruling could undercut private-sector unions, too," 9 July 2018 Mistletoe, holly, and Christmas trees (both real and fake) can all send your four-legged friends to the vet — and those bills from the 24-hour emergency vet will dampen your holiday cheer real fast. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "5 Holiday Plants That Are Way More Toxic Than Poinsettias to Cats and Dogs," 14 Dec. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dampen.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.