DAMPEN Synonyms: 150 Similar and Opposite Words

dampen

verb

ˈdam-pən

Definition of dampen

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

as in to reduce

to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling the oppressive heat dampened our spirits

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to undermine

to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality nothing could dampen their enthusiasm

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of dampen If those winds are preceded by sufficient rains, the risk of large fires is dampened. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 Chris Costagli, a vice president and food thought leader at NielsenIQ, said high gas prices have worsened Americans’ concerns about affordability, and that’s dampening demand for Halloween treats. — Dee-Ann Durbin, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026 The Horned Frogs don’t have the same name, image and likeness budget as those three, but Dixon isn’t letting that dampen his expectations. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2026 Playing the contrarian to the Federal Reserve’s plans to stimulate or dampen the economy only ends badly. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dampen

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dampen

Verb

Add to the oil mixture and beat on low speed until the flour is moistened.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026
In fact, just days earlier, the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel had slammed the coastline and dumped rain over the region — although not enough to significantly moisten the bone-dry vegetation.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of moisten

Verb

By controlling how densely cancer-targeting proteins are displayed on the virus, the team developed vaccine particles that significantly reduced tumor development in mice.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
Research suggests standard time better aligns with our circadian rhythm, or internal clock, and reduces the risk of health complications.

— Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of reduce

Verb

But supporters also warned that a Congress increasingly dominated by the far right and the agribusiness caucus could undermine those efforts to protect the forest and combat climate change.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
The senator challenged Supreme Federal Court Justice Cristiano Zanin’s decision to extend voting by two hours, arguing that the uneven application of the measure had undermined equal voting conditions.

— Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of undermine

Verb

The first two days are likely to feature weather interruptions and damp conditions suited to bowlers.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Suspension is taken care of by 43-mm upside-down forks with adjustable rebound and compression damping, and an adjustable central spring strut at the rear.

— Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of damp

Verb

Members of Congress could be expected to resist presidential encroachments because those encroachments diminished their own power.

— Stephanie A, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026
In theory, such an arrangement diminishes the cells’ ability to transport oxygen from the lungs.

— D. T. Max, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of diminish

Verb

The regime remains capable of suppressing any organized resistance in the country, but the growing disaffection of the elite threatens to weaken the state from within.

— Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026
Eisenkot's allies could also try to reverse legislation advanced by Netanyahu's government that critics say weakened Israel's democratic institutions and judicial independence.

— Itay Stern, NPR, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of weaken

Verb

When the timer dinged, Ernest carried his rats to the sink and wet them gently, one at a time.

— Madeline ffitch, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
One of these chambers contains a disc of fabric that is pre-wetted with water, one contains a foaming agent made up of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and sodium bicarbonate (the main component of baking soda), and one contains a drop of eye medication.

— Ben Coxworth October 23, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of wet

Verb

Inside the cabin, extensive additional sound deadening in the doors, trunk and wheel arches means phone calls and passenger conversations are entirely effortless at highway speeds.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026
Too much intention, too much Trying to Say, too much overarching metaphor, can deaden your work.

— Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of deaden

Browse Nearby Words

damped

dampen

dampened

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Dampen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dampen. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of dampen

verb

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