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
That can dampen rent hikes when tenants are monetarily insecure.
—
Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026
To fertilize your orchid, first dampen the potting medium to prevent root burn from the fertilizer application.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Jan. 2026
This will be a flexible space for socializing or studying, Haberkern said, with unique features on the ceiling to help dampen noise.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
How this Friday’s January jobs report could either incite or dampen the case for an interest rate cut at this month’s FOMC meeting.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dampen
Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026
To fertilize your orchid, first dampen the potting medium to prevent root burn from the fertilizer application.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Jan. 2026
This will be a flexible space for socializing or studying, Haberkern said, with unique features on the ceiling to help dampen noise.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
How this Friday’s January jobs report could either incite or dampen the case for an interest rate cut at this month’s FOMC meeting.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dampen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dampen
Verb
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Before eating the mochi, drink tea or soup to moisten your throat.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
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Water the soil until evenly moistened, then cover pots with plastic to retain moisture until the seeds germinate.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
26 Dec. 2025
Verb
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During his January 2025 State of the State address, Little called for tax cuts that could reduce the state’s general fund by about $100 million.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Jan. 2026
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To reduce sizes, builders are going back to open floor plans with fewer hallways.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The video evidence also appears to undermine elements of the government’s narrative of what happened.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
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Environmental and labor leaders say the pause is costing thousands of jobs and undermining energy independence.—
Carolyn Gusoff,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The mother plant can go back into its original container with fresh, damp soil.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
27 Dec. 2025
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The showers created an unusual backdrop for some residents, adding overcast skies and damp roads to the festive season.—
Wren Smetana,
AZCentral.com,
26 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Still seething after a sloppy 19-16 loss to the Detroit Lions, Johnson wasn’t hiding his dissatisfaction with a defeat that seemed to diminish his team’s momentum.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Kaufman moved there 30 years ago, and since that time the island’s community has diminished by degrees, its youth lured away by better employment prospects in Provo and overseas.—
Henry Wismayer,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Evergreen branches bent under the weight of snow are already weakened; sweeping down the length of the branch toward the ground adds to the stress and increases the potential for breakage.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
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These policies impose devastating costs on American citizens, weakening our economy, increasing the national debt, straining public budgets and tearing families apart.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Now add a blob of water, wetting some of the sand.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
9 Jan. 2026
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For suede boots, wet the entire surface with the vinegar and water solution to help keep the color even.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Both nationally and in Minnesota , there has been a shift away from intelligent discussion of public policy to endless partisan warfare with a deadening impact on the public.—
Arne Carlson,
Twin Cities,
8 Jan. 2026
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Our default options provide shelter for a fraction of those who need it and at the same time deaden streets, crowd the sky, and anger neighbors.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
16 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dampen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dampen. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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