dampening

verb

present participle of dampen
1
as in damping
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 reducing
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling the oppressive heat dampened our spirits

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in undermining
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality nothing could dampen their enthusiasm

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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 dampening Its LaserSlim build integrates real-time AI Motion Enhancer Pro sports-tracking filters, Object Tracking Sound Lite, and custom room acoustic sound-dampening blocks. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 6 July 2026 Easy to slip on and off, these sandals are perfect to keep by your front door to throw on at a moment’s notice without dampening your outfit. — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026 The attacks are dampening the mood of average Russians more visibly than at any time since the war in Ukraine began 4 1/2 years ago. — Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor, 30 June 2026 Late word comes out that SoCal’s Meghan Dizon is sick, forcing their sub Naomi Nguyen into action and really dampening their chances of another big weekend. — Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 The survey snapped three consecutive months of dampening consumer sentiment, recovering from an all-time low in May, data showed. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 12 June 2026 An inner cover allows moisture to condense without dampening the hive, and an outer cover protects the colony from inclement weather. — Literary Hub, 27 May 2026 Kyle Grillot | Bloomberg | Getty Images Mortgage rates continued to climb higher last week, dampening demand for loans from both current homeowners and potential homebuyers. — Diana Olick, CNBC, 20 May 2026 In the wake of the immigration raids last summer, many of their potential patrons refrained from hosting celebrations, dampening their business. — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dampening
  1. damping
  2. reducing
  3. undermining
  4. wetting
  5. blunting
  6. weakening
  7. moistening
  8. dulling
Verb
  • The resulting cavities are filled with dedicated acoustic damping material to control unwanted internal reflections.
    — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • Sport mode sits closer to the 21C’s natural operating balance, engaging both the combustion engine and electric systems for full output while firming up the damping and sharpening responses.
    — Bradley Iger, ArsTechnica, 6 July 2026
Definition of damping
Verb
  • Other, small local initiatives have recently been aimed at improving post-release support and reducing recidivism.
    — Amber Gaudet July 18, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
  • Weakening high pressure to our east is slowly reducing scorching hot temperatures from earlier this week and diminishing the monsoonal moisture that provided unseasonable rain showers and thunderstorms.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of reducing
Verb
  • Continuing to charge purchases, especially on the credit cards that are not enrolled in the plan, adds new interest at the same elevated rates while the original debt is still being resolved — undermining the entire point of the program.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 13 July 2026
  • Nigerian news groups had in March complained to President Bola Tinubu, alleging Alphabet, Meta, and X were among firms whose extraction of content from local publishers was undermining the press industry.
    — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of undermining
Verb
  • The mountain thunderstorms are expected to continue Monday and Tuesday but should be accompanied by wetting rains that dampen fire risk, with about a tenth of an inch of precipitation, Molina said.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Water in the morning deeply at the base of the plant using a soaker hose, avoiding wetting the leaves to prevent fungal diseases.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 July 2026
Definition of wetting
Verb
  • Greg Jaffe and Kate Kelly Politicians and officials in Mexico are using the country’s laws to intimidate critics and the media, forcing them into censorship and blunting scrutiny.
    — Kate Kelly Vincent Alban Paulina Villegas Kurt Streeter, New York Times, 21 June 2026
  • The body adapts to the daily dose, blunting caffeine’s impact on blood pressure, mental alertness and exercise performance.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 13 June 2026
Definition of blunting
Verb
  • The Knesset also recently passed several bills connected with Netanyahu’s attempts to overhaul the judiciary, including increasing government control over broadcast media and weakening the role of the attorney general.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 July 2026
  • European commitment is weakening, with record Russian LNG purchases and growing pro-Russian political factions.
    — Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of weakening
Verb
  • For this, Langelo recommends moistening the soil to make the weeds easier to pull.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Each watering session should deliver about 1/2 inch of water, moistening the soil to a depth of about 6 inches to support healthy root development.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026
Definition of moistening
Verb
  • Your diplomatic touch can set kind boundaries without dulling your warmth.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2026
  • Blurring bamboo silk powders keep shine in check without dulling skin, while camellia seed oil and antioxidant-rich vitamin E help mature complexions look smooth, hydrated, and naturally luminous.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 23 June 2026
Definition of dulling

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dampened
dampening
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Cite this Entry

“Dampening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dampening. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dampening

Nglish: Translation of dampening for Spanish Speakers

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