as in deadened
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reduced
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
the oppressive heat dampened our spirits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in undermined
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 dampened
Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
The company’s hiring spree comes amid a dampened US labor market, as more companies pursue layoffs and pause hiring, often citing AI as the reason.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 22 Mar. 2026
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
Above her, the nightingale hit the tree trunk with a dampened thud.
—Hazlitt, 19 Nov. 2025
Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2026
Within any chimp group, violence flares occasionally — but it is usually dampened by long friendships.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2026
Mullins was emotional and a few tears dampened his cheeks.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026
The restrictions also dampened the recent Muslim holy month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr holiday, as well as the current weeklong Jewish festival of Passover.
—Arkansas Online, 6 Apr. 2026
The restrictions also dampened the recent Muslim holy month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr holiday, as well as the current weeklong Jewish festival of Passover.
—Colleen Barry, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
High mortgage rates have dampened the real estate market, while rising insurance premiums are eating into operating costs.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2026
The Yankees won 3-2 that day, but that hardly dampened our hopes for the season and our new superstar.
—Raymond Daniel Burke, Baltimore Sun, 23 Mar. 2026
Ramadan and Eid is a time of joy for Muslims, but this year, the holiday mood was dampened, local clerics said.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The Kremlin’s economic woes are multiplying with its years-long war, which has added to government debt and dampened business investment.
—Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
The company’s hiring spree comes amid a dampened US labor market, as more companies pursue layoffs and pause hiring, often citing AI as the reason.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 22 Mar. 2026
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
Above her, the nightingale hit the tree trunk with a dampened thud.
—Hazlitt, 19 Nov. 2025
Verb
After cleaning, use a second cloth dampened with plain water to wipe away any leftover soap.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2026
Within any chimp group, violence flares occasionally — but it is usually dampened by long friendships.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2026
Mullins was emotional and a few tears dampened his cheeks.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026
The restrictions also dampened the recent Muslim holy month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr holiday, as well as the current weeklong Jewish festival of Passover.
—Arkansas Online, 6 Apr. 2026
The restrictions also dampened the recent Muslim holy month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr holiday, as well as the current weeklong Jewish festival of Passover.
—Colleen Barry, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
High mortgage rates have dampened the real estate market, while rising insurance premiums are eating into operating costs.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2026
The Yankees won 3-2 that day, but that hardly dampened our hopes for the season and our new superstar.
—Raymond Daniel Burke, Baltimore Sun, 23 Mar. 2026
Ramadan and Eid is a time of joy for Muslims, but this year, the holiday mood was dampened, local clerics said.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 20 Mar. 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
-
And Utah temporarily reduced its state fuel tax, but only by 6 cents on the gallon, bringing its state gas tax to 32 cents on the gallon for the remainder of 2026.—
Kathryn Watson,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Iran’s enrichment capabilities have been reduced by bombing this year and last.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The cost of maintaining death row prisoners and a number of botched executions in recent years—lethal injections or gas administrations that take far too long to work, for example—have also undermined confidence.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The union’s credibility is also undermined by its response to the fact-finding process.—
Marc Joffe,
Daily News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
Verb
-
As the decades passed on, neither its sentiment nor its shine ever dulled.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Perhaps the avalanche of artificial intelligence has dulled our capacity to be amazed by space technology.—
Michael Peregrine,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His EcoFlow house battery eventually drained as well, bringing the vehicle to a complete 0% state of charge.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Kennard drained all five of his three-point attempts, including three in the fourth quarter.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Blot — don’t rub — and avoid over-wetting the mattress, which can lead to mold growth if moisture gets trapped inside.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Water at the base of plants instead of wetting the entire garden with a sprinkler or hose.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Like the Olivieri men before him, he had been bound to a menu item that filled him with pride yet blunted his ambitions.—
Danielle Paquette The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Hormel is down 27% over the past year, and its 5% dividend yield hasn’t blunted the decline.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dampened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dampened. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
