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
Relevance
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dampening
Verb
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The car’s otherworldly handling begins there and is further enhanced by McLaren’s adaptive damping system on its double-wishbone independent suspension.
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There are also active road-preview sensors incorporated straight into the setup, which preemptively modify damping resistance according to incoming surface topology.
Verb
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This lifts the hull out of the water, reducing hydrodynamic drag and minimizing wake generation.
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On Tuesday, Uzbekistan was soundly thrashed by Portugal 5-0 — significantly reducing the country's chances to qualify for the next round of play in this World Cup, the first ever for a Central Asian nation.
Verb
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Facilitating investment in Ukraine’s natural resources sector would put more minerals and gas under US influence, and leverage them to achieve the broader foreign policy objective of undermining Russia.
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The real focus should be on utilities demonstrating how future T&D investments will efficiently deliver power, rather than undermining competition or seeking a return to less competitive systems.
Verb
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Joanna Shoulder received the beating as discipline for wetting her bed, according to a homicide detective’s account of his interview of the girl’s father described in an arrest warrant affidavit.
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Irrigation should be applied at the base of the plant at the soil line to avoid wetting the blooms.
Verb
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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.
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The body adapts to the daily dose, blunting caffeine’s impact on blood pressure, mental alertness and exercise performance.
Verb
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The hurricane-weakening effects of El Niño may be positive for property and casualty insurers in the Northern Hemisphere.
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An unpopular war, a structurally sound economy, but maybe GDP weakening, unemployment strong, but consumer confidence weakening.
Verb
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For this, Langelo recommends moistening the soil to make the weeds easier to pull.
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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.
Verb
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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.
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The danger is heavy-handed protections for Eskom will suppress wholesale prices, dulling market signals investors need for further investment in the sector, and effectively rebranding the old monopoly.
Cite this Entry
“Dampening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dampening. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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