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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
The stunning ending dampened what had been a tremendous comeback as the Knights fought back from a 15-point deficit in the first half to tie the game with 25 seconds left.
—
Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026
After each set of waves, the control room would repeat the test, only with the turbulence-dampening software turned on this time.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Water dampened 5 feet, 11 ¼ inches of the pole, the remnants of Tucson's monsoon season rainfall.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 2 Mar. 2026
Xiaomi Xiaomi launched its latest flagship smartphones globally on Saturday as an unprecedented surge in memory chip prices threatens to dampen sales.
—Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dampen
Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026
After each set of waves, the control room would repeat the test, only with the turbulence-dampening software turned on this time.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Water dampened 5 feet, 11 ¼ inches of the pole, the remnants of Tucson's monsoon season rainfall.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 2 Mar. 2026
Xiaomi Xiaomi launched its latest flagship smartphones globally on Saturday as an unprecedented surge in memory chip prices threatens to dampen sales.
—Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dampen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dampen
Verb
-
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
-
Dermatologists created this moisturizing lotion, which moistens your tattoo and creates a protective skin barrier.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The thinking, according to airport officials, is to encourage riders to use the yet-to-open Automated People Mover, also known as Skylink, and to reduce vehicle traffic around the terminals.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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From the guest's POV, drinking water is provided in reusable glass bottles, with water refilling stations across the property, and restaurant ingredients are sourced from the nearby partner South Farm and local suppliers to reduce the carbon footprint and support the community.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The remarks, delivered to Standard Bank executives and reported for the first time by Semafor, captured the growing unease among policymakers about how quickly the external shocks can undermine domestic planning, especially for an open, import-dependent economy like South Africa.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
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Aleph and other Jewish chaplaincy groups say the chaplaincy system is being undermined by the Messianic movement, whose adherents may identify as Jews but are not recognized as such by any denomination of Judaism.—
Asaf Elia-Shalev,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Dampwood termites are found in logs, fence posts, and utility poles; damp wood termites are attracted to firewood piles and water leaks such as from water pipes and AC units.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The device could also be used to damp vibrations in aerospace vehicles, ships, and aircraft, and to provide a shield for sensitive military hardware and scientific instruments that are vulnerable to sudden shock.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After a decade of dramatic growth, homelessness programs now face a period of diminishing resources.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Advocates say that level of disenrollment will sharply diminish the state’s health care system as a whole, by robbing hospitals and clinics of revenue.—
Andrew Graham
March 9,
Sacbee.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Under this model, airlines, hotels, and other end-service providers may benefit, while intermediaries such as ticket booking platforms and price comparison websites may see their roles weakened.—
,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
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This weakens the plant and can cause dieback.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Space Leylands 8 to 10 feet apart to control these problems and avoid wetting the foliage.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Do not over-wet the wood, which can cause warping and damage to the finish.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Merrill had the same impulse—the need to become a self not necessarily free of all that money could buy but not crippled or deadened by it, either.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The evening signaled that this is not the type of show that will deaden an artist behind glass vitrines.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dampen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dampen. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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