as in deadened
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1
as in damped
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 reduced
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
the oppressive heat dampened our spirits
Synonyms & Similar Words
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3
as in undermined
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 dampened
Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 26 Feb. 2026
Wipe thoroughly around the rubber seal with the dampened cloth, paying extra attention to any folds, seams, and hidden crevices.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026
Make sure the filter is not too wet, just slightly dampened.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
Finish Planting Cover the seeds with more dampened potting mix and then gently firm again.
—Kerry Michaels, The Spruce, 21 Jan. 2026
His promise to deliver another standout season comes amid a dampened economy and ongoing geopolitical turmoil, which are denting the performance of fashion and luxury.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 13 Jan. 2026
China’s antitrust regulator this week opened an investigation into the country’s e-commerce sector to target aggressive discounting that has pushed prices down and dampened margins.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Above her, the nightingale hit the tree trunk with a dampened thud.
—Hazlitt, 19 Nov. 2025
Its structure not only kept interiors cooler in hot climates but also dampened sound, a significant factor in temporary housing solutions for disaster zones or refugee settlements.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2025
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Yet the glorious combination of compelling engineering and design presented over the course of two days could not be dampened.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 3 Mar. 2026
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
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
Nvidia stock sank 5% on Thursday, as investor concerns around the artificial intelligence infrastructure boom dampened enthusiasm about its better-than-expected earnings.
—Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2026
Wipe with a mop dampened with all-purpose floor cleaner.
—Nashia Baker, Martha Stewart, 25 Feb. 2026
But a day after the test ended, those spirits were dampened when ground teams discovered that not all was well with the towering Space Launch System rocket.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
The confusion over his arrest dampened the mood among those who hoped the interim government would give up repressive tactics.
—Carmen Sesin, NBC news, 11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Cuba, which was already facing an energy crisis and a dampened economy prior to the ouster, is now on the brink of a major humanitarian crisis.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 26 Feb. 2026
Wipe thoroughly around the rubber seal with the dampened cloth, paying extra attention to any folds, seams, and hidden crevices.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026
Make sure the filter is not too wet, just slightly dampened.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
Finish Planting Cover the seeds with more dampened potting mix and then gently firm again.
—Kerry Michaels, The Spruce, 21 Jan. 2026
His promise to deliver another standout season comes amid a dampened economy and ongoing geopolitical turmoil, which are denting the performance of fashion and luxury.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 13 Jan. 2026
China’s antitrust regulator this week opened an investigation into the country’s e-commerce sector to target aggressive discounting that has pushed prices down and dampened margins.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Above her, the nightingale hit the tree trunk with a dampened thud.
—Hazlitt, 19 Nov. 2025
Its structure not only kept interiors cooler in hot climates but also dampened sound, a significant factor in temporary housing solutions for disaster zones or refugee settlements.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
Use a cloth dampened with water to wipe off soap residue.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Yet the glorious combination of compelling engineering and design presented over the course of two days could not be dampened.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 3 Mar. 2026
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
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
Nvidia stock sank 5% on Thursday, as investor concerns around the artificial intelligence infrastructure boom dampened enthusiasm about its better-than-expected earnings.
—Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2026
Wipe with a mop dampened with all-purpose floor cleaner.
—Nashia Baker, Martha Stewart, 25 Feb. 2026
But a day after the test ended, those spirits were dampened when ground teams discovered that not all was well with the towering Space Launch System rocket.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
The confusion over his arrest dampened the mood among those who hoped the interim government would give up repressive tactics.
—Carmen Sesin, NBC news, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dampened
Verb
-
Start with a clean cloth damped with plain water.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
9 Dec. 2025
-
Use a cotton ball damped with rubbing alcohol and rub over the area.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Fires in the area and a federal immigration crackdown last year have reduced tourism, leaving his 12 buses carrying fewer passengers.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
-
That reduced alcohol spending is not due to price changes, but because consumption is falling, the report said.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Fallout from the attacks has undermined the Emirates’ efforts to de-escalate tensions with Iran despite longtime suspicions of its neighbor across the Gulf.—
Brian Melley,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2026
-
The money funded terrorist attacks that undermined Israeli confidence in the peace process, propelling Oslo skeptic Benjamin Netanyahu to the prime ministership in 1996.—
Ron Kampeas,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Mar. 2026
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
-
Add the 2/3 cup milk; stir until just moistened.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Penumbral eclipses are even subtler, with the lunar surface merely dulled.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Once the series’ calling card, self-awareness has here been dulled into self-soothing.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Surgeons drained nearly three liters of blood from his chest cavity.—
Emily Trainham,
FOXNews.com,
7 Mar. 2026
-
This profound snow drought comes at an especially awkward time, compounding a quarter-century of regional aridification that has drained the nation’s two largest reservoirs to precarious depths.—
Brandon Loomis,
AZCentral.com,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Even a simple soaker hose is better than a sprinkler system that wets the foliage, which can make plants prone to blights and mildews.—
Marie Iannotti,
The Spruce,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Spray the door generously with cleaner or use a microfiber cloth to wet the door with the diluted vinegar mixture.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
There's a nice bitter chocolate flavor that's blunted perfectly by the brownies' delicate sweetness.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Anyone who follows Texas knows that defense and taking care of the ball are the cornerstones of this program, and while the Horns did force the Gamecocks into a bounty of miscues, their own missteps blunted a great chance to get a bounce-back after losing 70-65 at LSU on Sunday.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dampened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dampened. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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