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

The setup translates to significant articulation off-road, despite passive suspension that uses traditional shock dampers and no disconnecting sway bars. —Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2025

Helping harness grip in the S5 is fully independent five-link suspension at all four corners—the only member of the segment to have it—plus a sport differential and adaptive dampers. —Peter Nelson, Forbes.com, 20 Sep. 2025

The tennis ball symbolizes the founder’s innovative spirit in designing the damper tennis ball machines, which is woven through the brand’s never-ending evolution and pursuit of tech. —Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025

The bridge is also the first in the country to have a damper, boosting its earthquake resistance to an intensity of 7, the highest on Taiwan's scale, according to Focus Taiwan, the English-language website of the state news agency. —Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 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