Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

dampen

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of dampen

1 to make or become slightly or moderately wet
  • dampen a paper towel with water and use it to clean up the mess
Synonyms of dampen

bedew, damp, moisten
Words Related to dampen

bathe, lave

douse (also dowse), drench, impregnate, saturate, soak, souse, steep, wash, water, wet

humidify

dip, dunk, immerge, immerse

flush, irrigate, rinse, sluice

refresh, rehydrate, remoisten
Near Antonyms of dampen

dehumidify, dehydrate, desiccate, parch, scorch, sear
Antonyms of dampen

dry
2 to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
  • the oppressive heat dampened our spirits
Synonyms of dampen

benumb, blunt, cauterize, damp, deaden, dull, numb
Words Related to dampen

muffle, mute, tone (down)

decrease, diminish, lessen, let up (on), lower, reduce, subdue

debilitate, enfeeble, weaken

dwindle, recede, subside, taper (off), wane

alleviate, ease, lighten

abate, moderate
Near Antonyms of dampen

amplify, augment, beef (up), boost, consolidate, deepen, enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify, redouble, step up, strengthen

animate, arouse, stimulate
Antonyms of dampen

sharpen, whet
3 to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality
  • nothing could dampen their enthusiasm
Synonyms of dampen

castrate, damp, deaden, dehydrate, desiccate, devitalize, enervate, geld, lobotomize, petrify
Words Related to dampen

burn out, debilitate, do in, drain, enfeeble, exhaust, fatigue, sap, tucker (out), undermine, weaken, wear, wear out

daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit
Near Antonyms of dampen

arouse, rouse, stir

charge, electrify, galvanize

excite, ferment, fire, foment, incite, inflame (also enflame), instigate, kindle, provoke, spark, trigger, whip (up)

abet, boost, buoy, cheer, embolden, fortify, hearten, inspire, lift

reactivate, reanimate, reawake, reawaken, recharge, reenergize, refresh, regenerate, rejuvenate, rekindle, renew, resurrect, resuscitate, revitalize, revive
Antonyms of dampen

brace, energize, enliven, invigorate, quicken, stimulate, vitalize, vivify

Learn More about dampen

  1. Dictionary: Definition of dampen Spanish Central: Translation of dampen Nglish: Translation of dampen for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of dampen for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up dampen? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

adjudicate

to settle judicially or to act as judge

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. cache BuzzFeed reports on Trump-Cohen documents.

  2. intransigence, intransigent Trump cancels Davos trip.

  3. white supremacist Steve King discusses views.

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games