1
as in to moisten
to make or become slightly or moderately wet
dampen a paper towel with water and use it to clean up the mess
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to reduce
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
the oppressive heat dampened our spirits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to undermine
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality
nothing could dampen their enthusiasm
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dampen
The divider dampens cabin noise and provides a visual barrier from the aisle, restroom lines and galley traffic.
—
Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Europe is facing its first monthly drop in seaborne supply of natural gas in over a year, with volumes dampened by terminal works and tighter global flows.
—Elena Mazneva, Bloomberg, 24 Apr. 2026
That cautionary note dampened Wall Street's enthusiasm and erased the stock's bump.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 22 Apr. 2026
Lower spending could also dampen inflation, prompting the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates in an effort to support growth.
—Martha Shedden, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dampen
Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Europe is facing its first monthly drop in seaborne supply of natural gas in over a year, with volumes dampened by terminal works and tighter global flows.
—Elena Mazneva, Bloomberg, 24 Apr. 2026
That cautionary note dampened Wall Street's enthusiasm and erased the stock's bump.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 22 Apr. 2026
Lower spending could also dampen inflation, prompting the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates in an effort to support growth.
—Martha Shedden, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dampen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dampen
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
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Connecticut’s Climate Progress report, required every three years by the state legislature, shows how Connecticut is continuing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
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Companies are taking steps to reduce their plastic consumption, according to Melissa Bastos, Cotton Incorporated director of corporate strategy and insights.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In a recent Equity survey, 71 % of actors from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds still reported that hair and makeup departments were unable to meet their needs, something that undermining wellbeing, authenticity and production values.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
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Governments had promoted cleaner fuels like LPG for health and conservation reasons, but rising costs are undermining those gains.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Wet grass or damp sand conducts the Earth’s charge better than dry surfaces, so a morning walk on a dewy lawn or a stroll along the waterline both work particularly well.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
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Regardless of material, avoid soaking utensils for extended periods and store them somewhere with good airflow rather than sealed in a drawer while still damp.—
Jamie Thilman,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Even the most ambitious stories often felt exhausted by the third installment, with diminishing creative and financial returns.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
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Israel has repeatedly criticized the Lebanese government for not doing enough to diminish Hezbollah’s capabilities.—
Mustafa Qadri,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The deeper the rifts between the United States and Europe over Iran, the greater the chances of weakening the NATO alliance.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
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During his appearances on Capitol Hill this month, Secretary Kennendy was grilled about the administration's defense of the pesticide industry and weakening of protections against mercury pollution, another issue that Kennedy had worked on as an advocate.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Sprinkle an inch or two on top of the soil, then wet it with a hose to prevent the paper from blowing around.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
24 Apr. 2026
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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
Verb
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Another suggestion was requiring special sound-deadening balls, currently available, that lower the decibel levels considerably.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
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Merrill had the same impulse—the need to become a self not necessarily free of all that money could buy but not crippled or deadened by it, either.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dampen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dampen. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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