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
Kerry Michaels, The Spruce, 21 Jan. 2026
For weekly dusting, use a lightly dampened microfiber cloth.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2026
Gently scrub the interior using a non-abrasive sponge or dampened rag, paying special attention to stubborn, greasy spots.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 16 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
Pregnant people are also more susceptible to severe COVID outcomes because of a dampened immune response, designed to keep their bodies from attacking the fetus.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 26 Sep. 2025
Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent layoffs across the industry have dampened employee pushback, said Margaret O'Mara, a tech historian at the University of Washington.
—Joseph Menn The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 21 Jan. 2026
Yet if any one of these changes was reeled in, the negative effects on college sports would be significantly dampened.
—Sheldon H. Jacobson, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Power down the laptop and use a microfiber cloth lightly dampened with water.
—Ken Colburn, AZCentral.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Baseball’s obsession with velocity has dampened the soul of the sport.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
Remove stubborn fingerprints, smudges, food splatters, and other dirt with a microfiber cloth dampened with a solution of equal parts vinegar and water, then buff the area with a dry cloth.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2026
Test the colorfastness by using a clean white cloth dampened with water on an interior spot of the leather.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 14 Jan. 2026
Her solo spinoff, 2021's Black Widow, made only $379 million, with a release dampened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Finish Planting Cover the seeds with more dampened potting mix and then gently firm again.
—Kerry Michaels, The Spruce, 21 Jan. 2026
For weekly dusting, use a lightly dampened microfiber cloth.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2026
Gently scrub the interior using a non-abrasive sponge or dampened rag, paying special attention to stubborn, greasy spots.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 16 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
Pregnant people are also more susceptible to severe COVID outcomes because of a dampened immune response, designed to keep their bodies from attacking the fetus.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
Gorilla Armor dampened reflections by 75% according to Samsung and featured improved scratch resistance.
—Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent layoffs across the industry have dampened employee pushback, said Margaret O'Mara, a tech historian at the University of Washington.
—Joseph Menn The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 21 Jan. 2026
Yet if any one of these changes was reeled in, the negative effects on college sports would be significantly dampened.
—Sheldon H. Jacobson, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Power down the laptop and use a microfiber cloth lightly dampened with water.
—Ken Colburn, AZCentral.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Baseball’s obsession with velocity has dampened the soul of the sport.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
Remove stubborn fingerprints, smudges, food splatters, and other dirt with a microfiber cloth dampened with a solution of equal parts vinegar and water, then buff the area with a dry cloth.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2026
Test the colorfastness by using a clean white cloth dampened with water on an interior spot of the leather.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 14 Jan. 2026
Her solo spinoff, 2021's Black Widow, made only $379 million, with a release dampened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Jan. 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
-
In all, the fees were reduced by about $620,000 through automatic waivers and other savings, said Andrea Osgood, Eden Housing’s chief of real estate development.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
This population has been reduced by vehicle strikes and by animals sustaining rodenticide poisoning over the past decades.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Buffett highlighted the dilemma of addressing poverty in places where the rule of law is undermined by conflict, mentioning countries such as Congo or Sudan.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
27 Jan. 2026
-
But season-ending injuries to Rashawn Slater, Joe Alt and Harris, coupled with Hampton being undermined by ankle injuries, thwarted meaningful year-over-year gains (122 yards per game in 2025; 111 in 2024).—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Use a fork to stir just until moistened.—
Jenavieve Christensen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Jan. 2026
-
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
-
The men were loose-brained now, dulled by aguardiente and whatever narcotic Grejo had shot into himself, but the morning sun might deliver a hard-nosed clarity, the kind that could get Adi killed.—
Jonathan Miles,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The tool is a soft-hammer retoucher — a specialized tool used to sharpen dulled flint handaxes.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Even hospital appointments were overwhelming, with bright lights leaving her drained and overstimulated.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
-
This vast gulf between us, not just as Americans but as human beings, has drained me of hope.—
Bao Phi,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Water will leak under the shingles and wet the insulation, ceilings, and walls of your home.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Then wet the cloth with warm water and mild soap to give the board a better scrub.—
Lizzy Briskin,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
But even those findings haven’t blunted the video’s explosive impact.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dampened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dampened. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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