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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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
Then use a microfiber cloth barely dampened with water to wipe the fixture clean, making sure to get into any grooves and crevices.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
At therapeutic doses, GLP-1 drugs cross the blood-brain barrier and dampen dopamine signaling in the brain’s core reward center, making addictive substances less rewarding.
—Ziyad Al-Aly, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2026
At therapeutic doses, GLP-1 drugs cross the blood-brain barrier and dampen dopamine signaling in the brain’s core reward center, making addictive substances less rewarding.
—Ziyad Al-Aly, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2026
Geraniums prefer full sun, but the hottest summer days could dampen blooms and foliage.
—Jamie McIntosh, The Spruce, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dampen
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
At therapeutic doses, GLP-1 drugs cross the blood-brain barrier and dampen dopamine signaling in the brain’s core reward center, making addictive substances less rewarding.
—Ziyad Al-Aly, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2026
At therapeutic doses, GLP-1 drugs cross the blood-brain barrier and dampen dopamine signaling in the brain’s core reward center, making addictive substances less rewarding.
—Ziyad Al-Aly, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2026
Geraniums prefer full sun, but the hottest summer days could dampen blooms and foliage.
—Jamie McIntosh, The Spruce, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dampen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dampen
Verb
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At least, this time, unlike the December 2023 inspection, only natural juices moistened the ham and the rice looked insect-free.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
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Mist gently with water or set the container in a pan of warm water to moisten from below.—
Holly McNamara,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
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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
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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
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After a decade of dramatic growth, homelessness programs now face a period of diminishing resources.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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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
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Do not over-wet the wood, which can cause warping and damage to the finish.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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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 14 Mar. 2026.
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