dampened 1 of 2

adjective

as in deadened

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

dampened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of dampen
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

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

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
Adjective
This was a monumental miss by pollsters, one that likely dampened turnout in what was the nation’s marquee race in the Democrats’ intraparty battle over the party’s future direction. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026 The external stays dampened resonance and higher-order vibration modes, sharply reducing internal stress in the upper sections. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 July 2026 Prices reached record highs over the past two years, triggered by adverse weather conditions and poor cocoa harvests that pushed chocolate costs higher and dampened consumer sentiment. — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 27 July 2026 Make sure the filter is not too wet, just slightly dampened. — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 12 June 2026 Place the dampened loaf directly on the oven rack for 8 to 10 minutes, adjusting for size and density of your bread. — Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 3 June 2026 Use a dampened microfiber cloth to wipe down the shower tiles. — Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 18 May 2026 However, Friday’s labor data, at least, dampened fears the squeeze is spiraling into a full recession. — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 10 May 2026 The Kremlin’s economic woes are multiplying with its years-long war, which has added to government debt and dampened business investment. — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
Instead, Deimos’ fractured interior dampened the force of the impact, according to the study authors. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026 Yields have climbed higher as softer inflation and labor data have dampened the picture for Fed rate hikes, which the market has already priced in. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026 Once you’re done, use a cloth dampened with water only to remove the soapy residue. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 18 Aug. 2026 Tehran’s statement dampened hopes that a deal with Oman could provide a route for commercial shipping sooner than the US and Iran could reach their own agreement. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Spot treating fresh stains with a cloth or napkin dampened with plain water can often get rid of the problem. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 9 Aug. 2026 These bans also dampened the formation of new businesses, reducing the annual average number of startups by 35 in states with bans. — Ben Rosa, The Conversation, 4 Aug. 2026 Wipe off any soap residue with a microfiber cloth, dampened with only water. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 29 July 2026 On Wednesday in the NWSL, the attendance-record-setting game between the Spirit and Gotham FC felt dampened by the air quality, which forced hydration breaks every 15 minutes. — Chris Branch, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dampened
  1. damped
  2. reduced
  3. undermined
  4. moistened
  5. dulled
  6. drained
  7. wet
  8. blunted
Verb
  • Start with a clean cloth damped with plain water.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 Dec. 2025
  • Use a cotton ball damped with rubbing alcohol and rub over the area.
    — Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Definition of damped
Verb
  • That tariff rate was later reduced to 15% when the two sides agreed on a trade deal, but uncertainty remains about the stability of that agreement and how imports of certain European goods, such as steel, will be taxed by Washington.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Traffic on the critical waterway, through which one-fifth of global crude oil typically flows, has reduced to a trickle since the war started in February.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of reduced
Verb
  • Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has also undermined Iraqi oil exports, though Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC has helped get some through the chokepoint.
    — Dominic Dudley, semafor.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Constant record-setting ticket sales and TV viewership were undermined by growing resentment among everyone from athletes to fans over the players’ salaries; Clark’s rookie pay was just $76,000.
    — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of undermined
Verb
  • Mix with a spatula until the dry ingredients are just moistened; do not overmix.
    — Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Drizzle in 1/4 cup melted butter; stir until evenly moistened and crumbly.
    — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of moistened
Verb
  • Decades of scrolling have dulled our senses somewhat; this is inevitable.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Note that the texture may be slightly less crisp, and the flavor a little dulled once soft spots begin to develop.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of dulled
Verb
  • But as oil is drained from these reserves, the integrity of the caverns may be imperiled.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Free mosquitofish are also available through the Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control District for ponds, troughs and other standing water that cannot be drained.
    — Jessie Baltaxe, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of drained
Verb
  • Arrange some small, flat stones around the puddle to give the butterflies a place to land, and then add enough water to moisten or wet the sand.
    — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Pyne argues that Mediterranean Europe, much like California, is naturally predisposed to burn because of an annual cycle of wetting and drying.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of wet
Verb
  • Exports flowing from Saudi ports have blunted some of the impact of the Strait of Hormuz closure.
    — Fatma Khaled, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Weary of seeing people pick their teeth with daggers, Cardinal Richelieu has knives blunted in royal France.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Definition of blunted

Browse Nearby Words

dampen
dampened
dampening
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dampened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dampened. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on dampened

Nglish: Translation of dampened for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All