1
as in undermining
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality
refused to let the setbacks damp his drive for success
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wetting
to make or become slightly or moderately wet
damp the shirt slightly before ironing it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in reducing
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
nothing seemed to damp the unwelcome attentions of her suitor
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 damping
The gasket mount design of the K2 and K8 combines multi-layer sound-damping materials for a deeper and more solid typing experience.
—
Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
The 38mm transducers and steel-mesh damping design help control air displacement for clearer, more immersive sound without compromising bass.
—George Yang, PC Magazine, 8 June 2026
According to gardening expert Lucie Bradley, damping off is the main reason seedlings might stop growing before drooping and dying.
—Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 23 May 2026
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
Through careful tuning of an extended Kalman filter and by taking advantage of bamboo’s natural vibration-damping properties, the system slashes control latency from 15–20 milliseconds down to just 8–10 milliseconds, enhancing responsiveness while keeping flight stable.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026
The only change here, though, is that the KB399 gets more suspension adjustment than the Kawasaki, thanks to preload and damping adjusters.
—New Atlas, 26 Mar. 2026
For supply siders, higher taxes are like kryptonite to an economy, discouraging businesses from investing and damping entrepreneurial activity.
—Robert Burgess, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
Increase Air Circulation and Humidity Place a small fan near the seed starting area to keep the air moving and reduce damping off, a common fungal disease.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Feb. 2026
Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
The 38mm transducers and steel-mesh damping design help control air displacement for clearer, more immersive sound without compromising bass.
—George Yang, PC Magazine, 8 June 2026
According to gardening expert Lucie Bradley, damping off is the main reason seedlings might stop growing before drooping and dying.
—Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 23 May 2026
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
Through careful tuning of an extended Kalman filter and by taking advantage of bamboo’s natural vibration-damping properties, the system slashes control latency from 15–20 milliseconds down to just 8–10 milliseconds, enhancing responsiveness while keeping flight stable.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026
The only change here, though, is that the KB399 gets more suspension adjustment than the Kawasaki, thanks to preload and damping adjusters.
—New Atlas, 26 Mar. 2026
For supply siders, higher taxes are like kryptonite to an economy, discouraging businesses from investing and damping entrepreneurial activity.
—Robert Burgess, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
Increase Air Circulation and Humidity Place a small fan near the seed starting area to keep the air moving and reduce damping off, a common fungal disease.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damping
Verb
-
Wembanyama now risks undermining much of that newfound goodwill.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
-
Roboticists have long sought a compact, energy-efficient pumping technology that can be fully integrated into soft robotic systems without undermining the flexibility and adaptability that make soft robotics attractive in the first place.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Irrigate at the base of plants to avoid wetting foliage, which can encourage plant diseases like black spot.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 June 2026
-
Avoid wetting foliage when watering plants or water in the morning if using overhead sprinklers to help minimize foliar disease.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
This battery system will enable up to 12 hours of silent scientific operations powered entirely by batteries, reducing both emissions and underwater noise that can interfere with sensitive marine research.—
Dea Jusufi,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
According to the researchers, the catalyst weakens excessive bonding between iron sites and hydroxyl intermediates, allowing the reaction to proceed more smoothly and reducing one of the major bottlenecks in zinc-air battery operation.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
In conclusion, autonomous AI risks undermining the essential human spirit of science and weakening its role as an arbiter of social conflicts.—
Mohammad Hosseini,
Chicago Tribune,
4 June 2026
-
Critics argue the measures risk worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis on the island without meaningfully weakening the government.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
An inner cover allows moisture to condense without dampening the hive, and an outer cover protects the colony from inclement weather.—
Literary Hub,
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
Verb
-
Sam Lambert laid down a safety squeeze, deadening the ball in front of the plate and scoring Balls to trim the lead to 3-1.—
Dave Montrose,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 May 2026
-
Another suggestion was requiring special sound-deadening balls, currently available, that lower the decibel levels considerably.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In a press release, the USDA urged pet and livestock owners to check their animals for draining or enlarging wounds, maggots or egg masses, signs of discomfort and lesions in body openings, such as the nose, ears, genitalia, and umbilical area.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
9 June 2026
-
Plant your plum in a sunny location with well-draining soil, and provide occasional watering when the soil is dry.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
9 June 2026
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
Cite this Entry
“Damping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damping. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
