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

Peering through the Evija’s rear window reveals springs and brightly anodized dampers, rather than a pair of cam covers. —Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 6 Aug. 2025

Well, the Cayman does so with adaptive dampers (Sport was my preferred overall setting), whereas the Emira does so with conventional passive units, but both are excellent. —Peter Nelson, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025

The restricted free agency experience, rarely a fun one, is even damper than usual this summer. —Fred Katz, New York Times, 29 July 2025

New six-way dampers from KW and a removal of the need for carbon inserts in the chassis (replacing them with mounting plates) simplify the trackside service of suspension components. —New Atlas, 14 July 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