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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dampening
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
One of San Francisco's busiest freeways remained shut down Saturday, creating major traffic delays and dampening business for some local restaurants and shops.
—Da Lin, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
Build budgets that defend your savings without dampening your enthusiasm.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
In addition to adding decorative flair to windows and doors, these multipurpose window treatments promote privacy and block light, with many designs offering temperature-regulating and sound-dampening qualities to boot.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 31 Mar. 2026
But a shortage of foreign workers is dampening the mood.
—ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
That change has brought layoffs and smaller travel budgets, both dampening San Jose’s conference and convention recovery, Bellisario said.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2026
The rebound in the dollar could be dampening the appeal of gold.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
After each set of waves, the control room would repeat the test, only with the turbulence-dampening software turned on this time.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
One of San Francisco's busiest freeways remained shut down Saturday, creating major traffic delays and dampening business for some local restaurants and shops.
—Da Lin, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
Build budgets that defend your savings without dampening your enthusiasm.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
In addition to adding decorative flair to windows and doors, these multipurpose window treatments promote privacy and block light, with many designs offering temperature-regulating and sound-dampening qualities to boot.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 31 Mar. 2026
But a shortage of foreign workers is dampening the mood.
—ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
That change has brought layoffs and smaller travel budgets, both dampening San Jose’s conference and convention recovery, Bellisario said.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2026
The rebound in the dollar could be dampening the appeal of gold.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
After each set of waves, the control room would repeat the test, only with the turbulence-dampening software turned on this time.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dampening
Verb
-
Late last year, former President Jair Bolsonaro endorsed his son Flavio as the right’s candidate, damping investor expectations that Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas would gain broader backing.—
Giovanna Bellotti Azevedo,
Bloomberg,
7 Apr. 2026
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While your seed starting mix mustn't fully dry out, keeping it overly wet and soggy can lead to damping off and other issues that will kill your seedlings.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Unfortunately, facilities at public parks and libraries close at nightfall, greatly reducing the number of bathrooms available.—
Michael Perkins,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
-
In the surgical procedure, a v-shape of the lower lid is removed thereby shortening the area and reducing the defect.—
Dr. John De Jong,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Nationalist parties in Scotland and Wales are also undermining the longtime Labour-Conservative duopoly.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
-
Tragically, in this crucial moment for the legal profession, some nations that once championed the rule-of-law are now dangerously undermining lawyers, rather than defending them.—
Irwin Cotler,
Time,
8 May 2026
Verb
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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
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Iran continued to export nearly 2 million barrels of oil each day through the strait, blunting some of the supply loss, according to energy data firm Kpler.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The launches underscored continuing tensions between the Koreas, blunting South Korean hopes for warmer relations.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Dunn said Black domestic workers were often forced to work longer on election days by their white families, weakening their chances of casting a ballot.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 May 2026
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If next week’s jobs report shows a still resilient labor market, that could relieve investors wary of a weakening economic outlook.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
1 May 2026
Verb
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For this, Langelo recommends moistening the soil to make the weeds easier to pull.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
26 Apr. 2026
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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
Verb
-
The al fresco dining area is covered with beige tents, dulling the landscape.—
Lily Moayeri,
SPIN,
1 May 2026
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At Source puts seven years of joint practice and mutual magnetism to tape without dulling the dynamic buzz of their live sets.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dampening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dampening. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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