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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
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
Carmen Sesin, NBC news, 11 Feb. 2026
The literal goat in question is Will Harris, whose dreams of playing professional roarball are dampened by his undersized frame.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
Finally, disinfect the tools by wiping the blades with a cloth dampened with isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 10 Feb. 2026
Then use a cloth dampened with warm soapy water to wipe down the front every week.
—Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 10 Feb. 2026
To see him in such high spirits, seemingly not dampened by being rested for the final half-hour as Chelsea continue to manage his minutes, was a rare treat.
—Cerys Jones, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2026
The global trade war and its toll on production has further dampened the company’s global ambitions, with the US and Europe moving to protect their champions.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 3 Feb. 2026
The last time Spotify hosted one of these events, not even rain dampened the mood.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 30 Jan. 2026
But Warsh himself has recently dampened his hawkishness, arguing in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that artificial intelligence could prove a significant deflationary force through productivity gains, potentially creating room to lower borrowing costs.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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
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
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
The literal goat in question is Will Harris, whose dreams of playing professional roarball are dampened by his undersized frame.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
Finally, disinfect the tools by wiping the blades with a cloth dampened with isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 10 Feb. 2026
Then use a cloth dampened with warm soapy water to wipe down the front every week.
—Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 10 Feb. 2026
To see him in such high spirits, seemingly not dampened by being rested for the final half-hour as Chelsea continue to manage his minutes, was a rare treat.
—Cerys Jones, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2026
The global trade war and its toll on production has further dampened the company’s global ambitions, with the US and Europe moving to protect their champions.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 3 Feb. 2026
The last time Spotify hosted one of these events, not even rain dampened the mood.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 30 Jan. 2026
But Warsh himself has recently dampened his hawkishness, arguing in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that artificial intelligence could prove a significant deflationary force through productivity gains, potentially creating room to lower borrowing costs.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 30 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
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As Russia reduced flows, prices spiked, pushing up energy bills and helping fuel a cost of living crisis.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Ultimately, the report states, about 1% of the district’s more than 83,000 employees are likely to lose a job or have their pay reduced.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The petition alleges nine separate grounds -- including juror misconduct and government suppression of evidence -- for Ghislaine Maxwell's contention that constitutional violations undermined the integrity of her 2021 trial.—
James Longman,
ABC News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
But those anti-fraud efforts have been undermined as some federal prosecutors, including the lead prosecutor, working on them resigned in the wake of the ICE surge, said Minnesota House Democratic Leader Zack Stephenson.—
Dana Ferguson,
NPR,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Add the 2/3 cup milk; stir until just moistened.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Feb. 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
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The Air Max 95 joined late last summer and now boasts a total of three colorways including an Eric Koston collab, although complaints about quality have dulled the excitement.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
If the edges of the clippers have dulled, wiping down the blades with WD-40.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Country Day had rallied from a 14-point second-period deficit, trailing 23-9, when senior Jack Wegman drained a trio of three-pointers to key a 15-4 Falcons streak that narrowed the gap to 27-24 at intermission.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Feb. 2026
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The expropriations, along with the firings, consolidated state control of the oil sector and, experts say, drained the country of expertise and investment, inflicting lasting damage.—
Mery Mogollón,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When cleaning, first wet the glasses or use a lens spray before wiping.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Focus on even moisture at the soil level, and avoid wetting the flowers and the rest of the plant, if possible.—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
16 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 20 Feb. 2026.
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