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
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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
Any slowdown could dampen advancement, according to Kazi Helal, a PitchBook analyst, particularly for biotech startups.
—
Amy Feldman, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2025
Marshall Ragsdale spent his days toiling and his nights sleeping on the streets of South Florida, never allowing his situation to dampen his mood nor halt his acts of kindness.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025
But the pattern of injuries spanning his entire NBA career dampens any enthusiasm.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025
For one, rising tariffs would likely slow economic growth, dampening inflation as consumers and businesses pare spending.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dampen
Amy Feldman, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2025
Marshall Ragsdale spent his days toiling and his nights sleeping on the streets of South Florida, never allowing his situation to dampen his mood nor halt his acts of kindness.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025
But the pattern of injuries spanning his entire NBA career dampens any enthusiasm.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025
For one, rising tariffs would likely slow economic growth, dampening inflation as consumers and businesses pare spending.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dampen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dampen
Verb
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Add just enough buttermilk to moisten the flour mixture.—
Elizabeth Karmel,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
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Rinse your mouth with a mixture of one-half teaspoon (3 grams) of salt in 1 cup (240 milliliters) of water to reduce pain and moisten your mouth.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Guided by billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, the Trump administration has moved aggressively the past week to fire probationary workers across federal departments and agencies in an effort to drastically reduce the size of the government.—
Joey Garrison,
USA TODAY,
21 Feb. 2025
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Forgetting the environment for a moment, if nothing else, many consumers choose to reduce their meat consumption for their health and well-being.—
Shalom Daniel,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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This feels eerily similar to when Trump cut a deal with the Taliban while excluding the Afghan government—undermining their legitimacy and paving the way for disaster.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
17 Feb. 2025
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But the meeting itself provided legitimacy to far-right politicians pushing for a Christian state and undermined U.S. foreign policy, experts and officials said.—
Brett Murphy,
ProPublica,
16 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Type: Serum How to Apply: Start with applying 1-3 pumps to damp or dry hair, before heat styling.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
15 Jan. 2025
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That means a peace lily does best when its soil is consistently damp soil.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The absence of Ayo Dosunmu — who is dealing with shoulder discomfort from a long-term injury — further diminished the Bulls roster.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2025
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The union, too, had diminished in strength and numbers.—
Jackie Charniga,
USA TODAY,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In the fourth quarter of 2024, WK Kellogg reported net sales of $640 million, a decrease of 1.7% compared to $651 million in the same period in 2023, impacted by a 5.6% volume decline and a 40 basis point headwind from the weakening Canadian dollar.—
Joe Cornell,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
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But the Trump administration's new cuts further weaken a banking watchdog that has been sounding the alarm for years about its decreasing ability to prevent future banking crises.—
Maria Aspan,
NPR,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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This keeps the plant roots wet longer and can lead to the formation of fungal diseases and root rot.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
24 Jan. 2025
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Movies like High Tension (2003) and Martyrs (2008) would have even Eli Roth wetting his knickers, and Inside is no exception.—
Huntley Woods,
EW.com,
19 Dec. 2024
Verb
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America’s morning television brightens the day but deadens the soul.—
Joel Golby,
airmail.news,
5 Oct. 2024
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One way of deadening the mind to distractions is by blowing opponents off the court.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes,
5 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Dampen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dampen. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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