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 of damper

• 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

Erin then remembered how Mallorie was excited to throw a party for her milestone, but the news of the fire put a damper on the celebration. —Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026

Then Cowell put a damper on things. —Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 17 June 2026

That also put the damper on an affordability message the administration had been trying to sell ahead of the midterms. —Scott Horsley, NPR, 17 June 2026

International travel is expensive, for one, and worries around immigration enforcement have put a damper on the festivities for some fans, according to reporting from The Guardian. —Jenna Thompson june 16, Kansas City Star, 16 June 2026

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