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

Rain, and even snow (or just freezing temperatures), are not out of the question and could quickly put a damper on the hopes of a record-breaking performance. —Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026

While the last few days were mostly muggy with high dew points around 62 degrees Fahrenheit, putting a damper on potential wildfires, the next several days will see lower dew points, according to Royse. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026

Even the damper system sheds some weight on the new GTD. —New Atlas, 21 Apr. 2026

Citronella Candles Don't let mosquitoes put a damper on your backyard plans this summer. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 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