1
as in damped
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 reduced
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
the oppressive heat dampened our spirits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in undermined
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality
nothing could dampen their enthusiasm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in deadened
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 dampened
Erica Sloan, SELF, 26 Sep. 2025
On the other hand, the tariffs have also created supply chain uncertainty and dampened global economic activity, which can lead to a slowdown in growth and demand.
—Jeff Gapusan, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
In Florida, high insurance premiums and other costs have further dampened demand.
—Mike Winters, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Unemployment has stayed relatively low in part because of dampened demand for workers as well as a depressed supply (people aging out of the workforce as well as reductions in immigrant workers).
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
Following Minneapolis household-name retail chain Target’s declining sales and dampened consumer perception, which followed backtracked DEI initiatives, chair and CEO Brian Cornell has resigned.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 22 Aug. 2025
Wall Street’s main indexes fell on Thursday as investors feared potentially hawkish remarks by the Federal Reserve chair on Friday that could spark volatility, while big-box retailer Walmart’s quarterly results dampened sentiment.
—Reuters, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2025
Vehicle prices and airfares fell, in part because of dampened demand.
—Arkansas Online, 13 Aug. 2025
Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Use a soft cloth dampened with soapy water on stainless steel or enamel kettles.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
But none of this has dampened the their desires to train and compete.
—Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 11 Sep. 2025
But her athletic triumph was tragically dampened by years of abuse at the hands of her husband and coach Jim Martin, who in 2010 attempted to murder her, stabbing her many times, slicing the flesh off the bone from her leg, and shooting her.
—Esther Zuckerman, Time, 6 Sep. 2025
Inputs that arrive in sync with the rhythm are amplified, while those that come at the wrong moment are dampened or ignored.
—New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2025
While casting rumors have swirled, Pressman said nothing is confirmed just yet, but that hasn’t dampened his excitement.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025
This incredible growth has been partially dampened by a 71% increase in total shares outstanding, to 391 million.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
And yet enthusiasm for football has not dampened, amid the engagement caused by four different champions in six years in Serie A, a mini-renaissance in club football in Europe and the Azzurre making the nation proud.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
Pregnant people are also more susceptible to severe COVID outcomes because of a dampened immune response, designed to keep their bodies from attacking the fetus.
—Adjective
The optimism surrounding the Green Bay Packers following their massive acquisition of superstar edge rusher Micah Parsons and 2-0 start has been dampened a bit by an injury to one of their key players.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for dampened
Verb
-
Its carbon-fiber tonearm and damped aluminum platter reduce resonance for clearer, more dynamic sound, while the pre-mounted cartridge keeps setup refreshingly straightforward.—
Verb
-
Nguyen said his office has avoided fee increases and kept costs low by automating administrative tasks and incorporating new technology such as an AI chatbot, which has significantly reduced call volume.—
-
Researchers hypothesized that, along with the rest of her diet, this habit kept her gut microbiome resembling that of a much younger person and reduced her levels of inflammation.—
Verb
-
The president has publicly floated the idea of removing him, arguing that higher borrowing costs threatened economic growth and undermined his administration’s policies.—
-
Some political scientists see a pattern that suggests American democracy is being undermined in real time.—
Verb
-
In recent years, however, his Midas touch on the charts has dulled slightly, and his last two sets — 2023’s – (Minus) and 2024’s Autumn Variations — missed the top spot, while failing to generate the long-lasting hit singles his earlier albums had easily spun off.—
-
Syracuse University professor Dimitar Gueorguiev warned that TikTok’s edge has dulled.—
Verb
-
Just make sure it’s nicely drained.—
-
What happens behind the walls of data centers, where water is drained for cooling and carbon quietly accumulates, rarely makes headlines.—
Verb
-
That could explain the oxygen released from the Mars soil sample when moistened.—
-
Drizzle butter over crumb mixture; pulse until evenly moistened.—
Verb
-
Some experts warn the treaty's impact could be blunted if the most powerful players on the high seas remain outside it.—
-
The phasing in of the wage increase seems to have blunted the referendum effort, acknowledged San Diego County Lodging Association Board Chairman Robert Gleason.—
Verb
-
While the greenback has depreciated against other major currencies this year, with the dollar index tumbling over 10%, those currencies have also weakened in value relative to gold, Dalio said, noting that gold has become the second largest reserve currency globally.—
-
Key News Asian equities were mixed/lower overnight as Hong Kong, Mainland China, and the Philippines stood out as relative bright spots while the US dollar weakened versus the Asia Dollar Index.—
Cite this Entry
“Dampened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dampened. Accessed 27 Sep. 2025.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share