damper

noun

damp·​er ˈdam-pər 

1

: a dulling or deadening influence

put a damper on the celebration

2

: a device that damps: such as

a

: a valve or plate (as in the flue of a furnace) for regulating the draft

b

: a small felted block to stop the vibration of a piano string

c

chiefly British : shock absorber

3

Australia : a simple usually unleavened bread of a kind made originally in the Australian bush

Synonyms

• mute

Examples of damper in a Sentence

the pianist used the damper pedal on the piano for the quiet passages

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump’s tariffs have put a major damper on that plan. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025

Less daylight and wind meant the pitch was damper and more prone to disease. —Matt Slater, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025

But despite now only having to endure a 10-percent reciprocal tariff, the rescinding of transshipment capabilities puts a major damper on Bangladesh’s export economy. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 11 Apr. 2025

New suspension, using Reiger shock dampers, helps to manage weight transfer and body roll, while absorbing all but the worst road surfaces with the kind of comfortable, cushiony float that only optimal valve tuning can produce. —Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing damper

• put a damper on

Rhymes for damper

• camper
• hamper
• pamper
• scamper
• stamper
• tamper

Kids Definition

damper

noun

damp·​er ˈdam-pər 

: one that damps : as

a

: a valve or plate (as in the flue of a furnace) for regulating the draft

b

: a device (as one of the felt-covered pieces of wood in a piano) used to deaden vibrations or oscillations

c

: a dulling or deadening influence

put a damper on the celebration