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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dampening
That's just because the sugar, again, is dampening that effect.
—
Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Jan. 2026
Authorities planned to look into whether sound-dampening material on the ceiling conformed with regulations and whether the candles were permitted for use in the bar.
—CBS News, 3 Jan. 2026
To ring in the new year, the cities and villages of Miami Beach, Surfside and Bal Harbour will be holding several events, but with them comes several road closures that will bring mood-dampening traffic.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
But Golden State put the game away by shooting 24-for-49 on 3-pointers for the game, dampening a 33-point effort by Charlotte’s Brandon Miller.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 31 Dec. 2025
In response to community feedback, the city has also installed acoustic sound-dampening panels to help reduce noise for nearby neighbors.
—Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 30 Nov. 2025
Studies have shown that a single session of exposure therapy can produce measurable neural changes, dampening activity in the brain’s fear network and reorganizing responses to feared stimuli.
—Maria Williams, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025
Mandatory overtime and stagnating wages were other factors dampening morale, which has gotten even worse now that controllers are not being paid at all.
—Joel Rose, NPR, 5 Nov. 2025
Rising insurance costs, intensifying storms and growing awareness of flood risks are already dampening home sales in some communities − and thus opportunities to simply hand over one’s risk to someone else and move on.
—Debolina Banerjee, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2025
Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Jan. 2026
Authorities planned to look into whether sound-dampening material on the ceiling conformed with regulations and whether the candles were permitted for use in the bar.
—CBS News, 3 Jan. 2026
To ring in the new year, the cities and villages of Miami Beach, Surfside and Bal Harbour will be holding several events, but with them comes several road closures that will bring mood-dampening traffic.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
But Golden State put the game away by shooting 24-for-49 on 3-pointers for the game, dampening a 33-point effort by Charlotte’s Brandon Miller.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 31 Dec. 2025
In response to community feedback, the city has also installed acoustic sound-dampening panels to help reduce noise for nearby neighbors.
—Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 30 Nov. 2025
Studies have shown that a single session of exposure therapy can produce measurable neural changes, dampening activity in the brain’s fear network and reorganizing responses to feared stimuli.
—Maria Williams, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025
Mandatory overtime and stagnating wages were other factors dampening morale, which has gotten even worse now that controllers are not being paid at all.
—Joel Rose, NPR, 5 Nov. 2025
Rising insurance costs, intensifying storms and growing awareness of flood risks are already dampening home sales in some communities − and thus opportunities to simply hand over one’s risk to someone else and move on.
—Debolina Banerjee, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dampening
Verb
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These coverings should be removed once seedlings sprout to prevent fungal diseases like damping off.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Ride quality is another major focus of the Buick Electra E7, which is equipped with a pre-emptive RTD continuously variable damping suspension system designed to adapt in real time to changing road conditions.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The plant will focus on advanced packaging, which involves combining multiple memory chips into a single, high-density unit to improve performance and energy efficiency while reducing overall size.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
13 Jan. 2026
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The team achieved a 20 percent reduction in turbine weight per megawatt compared to the industry average, assisting with installation while also reducing costs.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Cho’s team argued in court that Yoon sought to prolong his hold on power by undermining South Korea’s constitutional system of governance.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
14 Jan. 2026
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The complaint asserts that Minneapolis and Saint Paul have been forced to divert officers from their usual duties to respond to incidents involving federal immigration enforcement, undermining local efforts to protect the community.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Some other unconventional methods include steaming the fabric to soften the threads and then stretch, as well as wetting the garment and then pining it down at the correct size, like how crocheters stretch out granny squares.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
15 Jan. 2026
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Now add a blob of water, wetting some of the sand.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But earlier this week, a bipartisan group of senators worked to strike a compromise that could resurrect the enhanced ACA premium tax credits — potentially blunting the blow of rising monthly payments for Obamacare enrollees.—
Luke Garrett,
NPR,
1 Jan. 2026
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The shortfall stems from rising costs for the memory chips that go into computers, a jump which is blunting the benefits of a sales cycle for PCs.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
26 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Milk, butter and cheese prices on the wholesale market and at grocery stores have decreased slightly due to oversupply and weakening consumer demand.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
9 Jan. 2026
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This suggests consumers enter 2026 with continuing concerns over high prices and weakening labor market conditions.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Your nose is better at warming and moistening the cold, dry air than your mouth.—
Susan Russell,
Verywell Health,
23 Dec. 2025
Verb
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And Chinese exporters diverted flows through Southeast Asia and Mexico, dulling the effects of tariffs even as headline restrictions intensified.—
Dewardric L. McNeal,
CNBC,
31 Dec. 2025
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For deeper skin tones, Samo Spritzer offers a muted rosy mauve that sculpts without dulling the skin, while Feliz Fresca delivers high-impact pink pigment that stays saturated all day.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Allure,
26 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dampening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dampening. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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