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
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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
as in deadened
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dampened
Mike Winters, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Unemployment has stayed relatively low in part because of dampened demand for workers as well as a depressed supply (people aging out of the workforce as well as reductions in immigrant workers).
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
Following Minneapolis household-name retail chain Target’s declining sales and dampened consumer perception, which followed backtracked DEI initiatives, chair and CEO Brian Cornell has resigned.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 22 Aug. 2025
Wall Street’s main indexes fell on Thursday as investors feared potentially hawkish remarks by the Federal Reserve chair on Friday that could spark volatility, while big-box retailer Walmart’s quarterly results dampened sentiment.
—Reuters, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2025
Vehicle prices and airfares fell, in part because of dampened demand.
—Arkansas Online, 13 Aug. 2025
Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 11 Sep. 2025
But her athletic triumph was tragically dampened by years of abuse at the hands of her husband and coach Jim Martin, who in 2010 attempted to murder her, stabbing her many times, slicing the flesh off the bone from her leg, and shooting her.
—Esther Zuckerman, Time, 6 Sep. 2025
Inputs that arrive in sync with the rhythm are amplified, while those that come at the wrong moment are dampened or ignored.
—New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2025
While casting rumors have swirled, Pressman said nothing is confirmed just yet, but that hasn’t dampened his excitement.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025
This incredible growth has been partially dampened by a 71% increase in total shares outstanding, to 391 million.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Take a microfiber towel dampened with a mixture of Castile soap and water to clean the remote.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 26 Aug. 2025
And yet enthusiasm for football has not dampened, amid the engagement caused by four different champions in six years in Serie A, a mini-renaissance in club football in Europe and the Azzurre making the nation proud.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
Even so, the delay dampened the energy of the game, both from a crowd and on-field perspective.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2025
Verb
In Florida, high insurance premiums and other costs have further dampened demand.
—Mike Winters, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Unemployment has stayed relatively low in part because of dampened demand for workers as well as a depressed supply (people aging out of the workforce as well as reductions in immigrant workers).
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
Following Minneapolis household-name retail chain Target’s declining sales and dampened consumer perception, which followed backtracked DEI initiatives, chair and CEO Brian Cornell has resigned.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 22 Aug. 2025
Wall Street’s main indexes fell on Thursday as investors feared potentially hawkish remarks by the Federal Reserve chair on Friday that could spark volatility, while big-box retailer Walmart’s quarterly results dampened sentiment.
—Reuters, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2025
Vehicle prices and airfares fell, in part because of dampened demand.
—Arkansas Online, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
But none of this has dampened the their desires to train and compete.
—Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 11 Sep. 2025
But her athletic triumph was tragically dampened by years of abuse at the hands of her husband and coach Jim Martin, who in 2010 attempted to murder her, stabbing her many times, slicing the flesh off the bone from her leg, and shooting her.
—Esther Zuckerman, Time, 6 Sep. 2025
Inputs that arrive in sync with the rhythm are amplified, while those that come at the wrong moment are dampened or ignored.
—New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2025
While casting rumors have swirled, Pressman said nothing is confirmed just yet, but that hasn’t dampened his excitement.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025
This incredible growth has been partially dampened by a 71% increase in total shares outstanding, to 391 million.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Take a microfiber towel dampened with a mixture of Castile soap and water to clean the remote.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 26 Aug. 2025
And yet enthusiasm for football has not dampened, amid the engagement caused by four different champions in six years in Serie A, a mini-renaissance in club football in Europe and the Azzurre making the nation proud.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
Even so, the delay dampened the energy of the game, both from a crowd and on-field perspective.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dampened
Verb
-
Its carbon-fiber tonearm and damped aluminum platter reduce resonance for clearer, more dynamic sound, while the pre-mounted cartridge keeps setup refreshingly straightforward.—
Jacorey Moon,
Architectural Digest,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Among other policy changes, the bill brought back 2017 tax cuts, increased funding for deportation efforts and reduced who is eligible for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).—
Avalon Hester,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
-
However, the length of time the computer takes to respond is within the designer's control, and its perception can be reduced by giving prompt and accurate feedback, even if the operation's actual execution time is longer.—
Cameron Kaiser,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Critics argue that Lee's response to the Hortman killings—promoting misinformation and making partisan jabs—undermined attempts to build a bipartisan consensus against political violence.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
-
While North Korea has served as a geopolitical buffer against the US and its allies in East Asia, its pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles has undermined regional security and handed Washington a justification to expand its military presence on China’s doorstep.—
Nectar Gan,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Syracuse University professor Dimitar Gueorguiev warned that TikTok’s edge has dulled.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Even when the Dodgers find a glimmer, it has been dulled rather quickly.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Whatever drama Wednesday’s game might have held was mostly drained away by the end of the second inning.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Once drained, cut into 1-inch cubes.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That could explain the oxygen released from the Mars soil sample when moistened.—
Joel S. Levine,
The Conversation,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Drizzle butter over crumb mixture; pulse until evenly moistened.—
Ann Taylor Pittman,
Southern Living,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The phasing in of the wage increase seems to have blunted the referendum effort, acknowledged San Diego County Lodging Association Board Chairman Robert Gleason.—
Lori Weisberg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The very tool meant to sharpen medical practice had perhaps blunted it.—
Murali Doraiswamy,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Childhood illnesses had severely weakened her own heart.—
Ruchi Kumar,
NPR,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Since then, the legal safeguards against such encounters have weakened.—
Sydney Barragan,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dampened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dampened. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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