as in deadened
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1
as in damped
to make or become slightly or moderately wet
dampen a paper towel with water and use it to clean up the mess
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reduced
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
the oppressive heat dampened our spirits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in undermined
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality
nothing could dampen their enthusiasm
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dampened
Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
The company’s hiring spree comes amid a dampened US labor market, as more companies pursue layoffs and pause hiring, often citing AI as the reason.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 22 Mar. 2026
Cuba, which was already facing an energy crisis and a dampened economy prior to the ouster, is now on the brink of a major humanitarian crisis.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 26 Feb. 2026
Wipe thoroughly around the rubber seal with the dampened cloth, paying extra attention to any folds, seams, and hidden crevices.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026
Make sure the filter is not too wet, just slightly dampened.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
Finish Planting Cover the seeds with more dampened potting mix and then gently firm again.
—Kerry Michaels, The Spruce, 21 Jan. 2026
His promise to deliver another standout season comes amid a dampened economy and ongoing geopolitical turmoil, which are denting the performance of fashion and luxury.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 13 Jan. 2026
Above her, the nightingale hit the tree trunk with a dampened thud.
—Hazlitt, 19 Nov. 2025
Kevin Williams, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2026
The Yankees won 3-2 that day, but that hardly dampened our hopes for the season and our new superstar.
—Raymond Daniel Burke, Baltimore Sun, 23 Mar. 2026
Ramadan and Eid is a time of joy for Muslims, but this year, the holiday mood was dampened, local clerics said.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 20 Mar. 2026
At the same time, China’s appetite for conflict has likely been dampened by struggles to support its slowing domestic economy, as well as a string of dismissals in the top echelons of its own military.
—Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Industry representatives say Colorado’s regulations, considered among the strictest in the nation, have dampened interest in investing in the state and increased the cost of business.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
Of course, Warren is far from altogether Oscar-less, having picked up an honorary Academy Award at the Governors Award in 2022, although that has not dampened her enthusiasm to win a competitive trophy… or lessened the Academy’s eagerness to put her in a near-miss position year after year.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
Wipe The Microwave Clean Use a cloth dampened with warm, soapy water to clean the underside of your microwave.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026
Your basic latex makeup wedges, dampened and rubbed against the stain.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The Kremlin’s economic woes are multiplying with its years-long war, which has added to government debt and dampened business investment.
—Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
The company’s hiring spree comes amid a dampened US labor market, as more companies pursue layoffs and pause hiring, often citing AI as the reason.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 22 Mar. 2026
Cuba, which was already facing an energy crisis and a dampened economy prior to the ouster, is now on the brink of a major humanitarian crisis.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 26 Feb. 2026
Wipe thoroughly around the rubber seal with the dampened cloth, paying extra attention to any folds, seams, and hidden crevices.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026
Make sure the filter is not too wet, just slightly dampened.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
Finish Planting Cover the seeds with more dampened potting mix and then gently firm again.
—Kerry Michaels, The Spruce, 21 Jan. 2026
His promise to deliver another standout season comes amid a dampened economy and ongoing geopolitical turmoil, which are denting the performance of fashion and luxury.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 13 Jan. 2026
Above her, the nightingale hit the tree trunk with a dampened thud.
—Hazlitt, 19 Nov. 2025
Verb
High mortgage rates have dampened the real estate market, while rising insurance premiums are eating into operating costs.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2026
The Yankees won 3-2 that day, but that hardly dampened our hopes for the season and our new superstar.
—Raymond Daniel Burke, Baltimore Sun, 23 Mar. 2026
Ramadan and Eid is a time of joy for Muslims, but this year, the holiday mood was dampened, local clerics said.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 20 Mar. 2026
At the same time, China’s appetite for conflict has likely been dampened by struggles to support its slowing domestic economy, as well as a string of dismissals in the top echelons of its own military.
—Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Industry representatives say Colorado’s regulations, considered among the strictest in the nation, have dampened interest in investing in the state and increased the cost of business.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
Of course, Warren is far from altogether Oscar-less, having picked up an honorary Academy Award at the Governors Award in 2022, although that has not dampened her enthusiasm to win a competitive trophy… or lessened the Academy’s eagerness to put her in a near-miss position year after year.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
Wipe The Microwave Clean Use a cloth dampened with warm, soapy water to clean the underside of your microwave.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026
Your basic latex makeup wedges, dampened and rubbed against the stain.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dampened
Verb
-
Start with a clean cloth damped with plain water.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
9 Dec. 2025
-
Use a cotton ball damped with rubbing alcohol and rub over the area.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The character, played by Esteban Andres Cruz, has been reduced to a simpering stereotype who makes a pass at a cop and mimics a blow job.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Seen from this perspective, ecology cannot be reduced to questions of proximity alone.—
Manuela Moscoso,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Yet for decades, this strategically important industry has been undermined by rampant customs fraud and chronic underinvestment in trade enforcement.—
Kim Glas,
Footwear News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
However, those efforts could be undermined by a recent increase in 2-year yields that threatens to compress excess spreads, according to Bank of America.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At least, this time, unlike the December 2023 inspection, only natural juices moistened the ham and the rice looked insect-free.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
-
For any type of cabinet, a soft cloth lightly moistened with soapy water should do the job effectively.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Though there was a thrilling edge to their early work—the lightning-in-a-bottle sample drill of Polo Perks and Moh Baretta, that spine-tingling Pasto Flocco run—it’s been dulled a bit in favor of ambling minimalism.—
Olivier Lafontant,
Pitchfork,
6 Apr. 2026
-
In recent weeks, the vibe inside the arena has been dulled, with bad basketball, little star power and no effervescent Curry.—
Sports Columnist,
San Francisco Chronicle,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Like the battery on her phone and computer, she was drained.—
Natalia Favre,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2026
-
At one point there’s a throwaway bit involving a roller coaster that dives into a pit of lava, eventually emerging with all its passengers transformed into happy skeletons; maybe we are supposed to be those happy skeletons, drained of life and loving it.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Then hose it down with a garden hose to fully wet the rug.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Use a garden hose to fully wet the rug.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For now, some of those near-term increases have been blunted some by Americans’ tax refunds; however, that’s not an endless well.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The partisan edge in the election-year vote was blunted by 14 Republicans joining 96 Democrats in approving the contract on a 110-31 vote.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dampened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dampened. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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