1
as in damps
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 reduces
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
the oppressive heat dampened our spirits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in undermines
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality
nothing could dampen their enthusiasm
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 dampens
Water dampens how far debris gets thrown, as anyone who has ever tried throwing an object underwater can confirm.
—
Quanta Magazine, 26 May 2026
That’s way too many and dampens his 56 strikeouts and only 36 hits allowed.
—Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
As someone who enjoys gardening and beautifying my yard, one thing that always dampens my mood is the sight of weeds.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 19 May 2026
The exertion dampens some of the mirth.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
The divider dampens cabin noise and provides a visual barrier from the aisle, restroom lines and galley traffic.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
This dampens the volatility of month-to-month without overlooking changes in year-to-year.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026
Snow also dampens the sound and may slightly reduce the danger compared to a typical thunderstorm.
—Brandi D. Addison, IndyStar, 23 Jan. 2026
Strong winds eventually pushed it back into an icy area south of Grand Haven, where it became wedged in thick ice, providing data on how much ice actually dampens strong waves.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 8 Dec. 2025
Quanta Magazine, 26 May 2026
That’s way too many and dampens his 56 strikeouts and only 36 hits allowed.
—Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
As someone who enjoys gardening and beautifying my yard, one thing that always dampens my mood is the sight of weeds.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 19 May 2026
The exertion dampens some of the mirth.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
The divider dampens cabin noise and provides a visual barrier from the aisle, restroom lines and galley traffic.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
This dampens the volatility of month-to-month without overlooking changes in year-to-year.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026
Snow also dampens the sound and may slightly reduce the danger compared to a typical thunderstorm.
—Brandi D. Addison, IndyStar, 23 Jan. 2026
Strong winds eventually pushed it back into an icy area south of Grand Haven, where it became wedged in thick ice, providing data on how much ice actually dampens strong waves.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 8 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dampens
Verb
-
Ash wood damps the micro-vibrations of rough urban pavement in a way aluminum and steel can't match without extra engineering.—
Omar Kardoudi
April 15,
New Atlas,
15 Apr. 2026
-
While the standard model damps the road irregularities, the S feels more glued down, even in its softest setting, Sport.—
Basem Wasef,
Robb Report,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Building on its successful rollout in Brazil, Juspay is expanding Click to Pay globally to eliminate manual card entry, which minimizes checkout friction, reduces cart abandonment and boosts conversion rates.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
4 June 2026
-
Maintaining your yard by mowing, removing leaf litter, and trimming vegetation reduces tick habitats.—
Dan Simms,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
That shift undermines federal goals for the U visa program, the DOJ said in a news release Tuesday.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
3 June 2026
-
Treating speech like violence undermines a free society.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Buttermilk makes this cake tender while adding vegetable oil moistens the cake.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
18 May 2026
-
Users place the pouch between the gum and upper lip, where saliva moistens it and releases nicotine.—
Fran Kritz,
Verywell Health,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Concern has grown over on whether AI will become a catalyst that enriches humanity or a technological toxin that dulls human intelligence while wiping out millions of high-paying jobs.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2026
-
The underpowered engine dulls the otherwise capable chassis, fuel economy is merely average and the move towards touchscreen-heavy controls comes at the expense of usability.—
Matthew MacConnell,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Subtract what weakens the system.—
Nilton Bernini,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Teams evolve at different speeds, innovation concentrates among a small subset of employees, and trust across the organization weakens.—
Matt Rosenbaum,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Another Pearl Girl wets herself when the Eyes come for Thalia.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
-
Spray wets leaves and in the cool hours, leaves are susceptible to deadly molds and mildew.—
Nan Sterman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
-
Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dampens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dampens. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
