1
as in to moisten
to make or become slightly or moderately wet
dampen a paper towel with water and use it to clean up the mess
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to reduce
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
the oppressive heat dampened our spirits
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to undermine
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 dampen
But Williams’ homebody existence doesn’t dampen the wildfire energy Segel first got a hint of during a chemistry read over Zoom also attended by the series’ co-creators, Brett Goldstein and Bill Lawrence.
—
Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2026
For powder, dampen the fabric and then sprinkle powder on each stain.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2026
Guest says that spending time in a moody room in the winter may dampen your spirits.
—Kylie Petty, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Jan. 2026
Now there’s a comfortable space with a coffeemaker in the central outer room, as well as a private interview room that is insulated with ornamental sound-dampening tiles so children waiting next door can’t hear graphic details their parents are sharing with prosecutors.
—Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dampen
Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2026
For powder, dampen the fabric and then sprinkle powder on each stain.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2026
Guest says that spending time in a moody room in the winter may dampen your spirits.
—Kylie Petty, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Jan. 2026
Now there’s a comfortable space with a coffeemaker in the central outer room, as well as a private interview room that is insulated with ornamental sound-dampening tiles so children waiting next door can’t hear graphic details their parents are sharing with prosecutors.
—Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dampen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dampen
Verb
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Occasionally lightly moisten the soil.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
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If the paper towel dries out, re-moisten it with a spray bottle.—
Clarence Schmidt,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This comes at a time when there has been talk of reducing the number of PGA tournaments on the calendar.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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The cross-border clearing platform could streamline operations, reducing risks in OTC trades that dominate the market.—
Sean Lee,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That changes the nature of those devices and undermines the reason to buy an iPhone in the first place.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Even for a politician known for erratic policy shifts, this swap—of longtime democratic partners that have sacrificed much for America’s benefit in exchange for an authoritarian regime intent on undermining it—is bizarre.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Instead, there is the smell of ginger and damp wood.—
Tommy Orange,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Jan. 2026
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What to do if a pipe bursts Signs of a burst pipe include pooling water, damp walls or ceilings, or the sound of running water when no fixtures are on.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Sources at the club who spoke to The Athletic on condition of anonymity to protect relationships say there is no diminishing faith in Hurzeler at boardroom level.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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And some poor choices have not diminished the status of the Norwegian Nobel Committee as the international arbiter of moral courage.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The finance minister’s comments come after Takaichi sent a fresh warning on Sunday that the government will be ready to take action amid a weakening yen and surging bond yields.—
Mia Glass,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
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Over the past day, the trough that was keeping the storm track far away from us here has weakened, allowing the track to be closer to us.—
Ron Smiley,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Water will leak under the shingles and wet the insulation, ceilings, and walls of your home.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
27 Jan. 2026
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Then wet the cloth with warm water and mild soap to give the board a better scrub.—
Lizzy Briskin,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Considerable resources were devoted to acoustics that deaden the train noise from the outside.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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Schjerfbeck also liked the way Degas bleached his pastels to deaden their tone.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dampen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dampen. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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