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
Someone else knew buyers who were optimistic that a Mamdani win might finally be the thing to dampen the Brooklyn townhouse market.
—
Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 30 Oct. 2025
While city property taxpayers felt a substantial impact last year, the impact this year was dampened in part because the district is receiving more state funding — triggered by the district's additional spending last year.
—Rory Linnane, jsonline.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Beads of sweat dampened her hairline.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
The latter could dampen demand down the road.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dampen
Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 30 Oct. 2025
While city property taxpayers felt a substantial impact last year, the impact this year was dampened in part because the district is receiving more state funding — triggered by the district's additional spending last year.
—Rory Linnane, jsonline.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Beads of sweat dampened her hairline.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
The latter could dampen demand down the road.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dampen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dampen
Verb
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Buttermilk makes this cake tender while adding vegetable oil moistens the cake.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
2 Nov. 2025
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Simply moisten the skin on the face and massaging the formula in circular motions.—
Beatrice Zocchi,
Vogue,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Tax rises would likely act as another damper on inflation by reducing consumer demand.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
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Researchers also stressed that the synergistic effect of K+ and C3N4 co-intercalation lowers the energy barrier, reduces the electrostatic interaction, and enhances the kinetics and structural stability.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Adopting the Southern view, the Supreme Court issued opinions that severely undermined the legal architecture of Reconstruction.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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Others tell us that AI will completely undermine society.—
David Lyman,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Mattresses are dragged back inside, still damp but something to sleep on.—
David Culver,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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Lawn Diseases Many lawn diseases are caused by fungus that love the cool, damp conditions under wet leaves.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In the end, the power of the Cheney name was greatly diminished in GOP politics.—
Don Gonyea,
NPR,
4 Nov. 2025
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The business community is bracing to wake up Wednesday reminded of their diminishing power in their own backyard.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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With some estimates putting wave heights as much as 35 feet, weakened hatch covers would have been vulnerable to such waves.—
Stephen J. Beard,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
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The years of horrific violence have weakened Sudan, plunging its institutions into chaos and making its population more vulnerable and poorer.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Place chopped leaves in a large wire bin and wet each layer.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
30 Oct. 2025
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But the comedy is absolutely something that wets my beak, I'm drawn to it.—
H. Alan Scott,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Rather than slash and swing away after spotting the play, Stott tried to get the ball down and deaden it, increasing the level of difficulty.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Now, Sora 2 might just be another online fad, a reality-deadening distraction that people will soon tire of.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dampen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dampen. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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