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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2
as in to reduce
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
the oppressive heat dampened our spirits
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3
as in to undermine
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality
nothing could dampen their enthusiasm
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Examples of dampen in a Sentence
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Recent Examples on the Web
But in recent weeks, Fed officials and economic data have dampened hopes for an aggressive monetary easing cycle.
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Jason Ma, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2024
That’s as Fed officials and economic data have dampened optimism for many cuts.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2024
His no-filter ethos has drastically dampened his star power stateside, as fans in the U.S. have a fielder’s choice of reasons to be done with the iconic artist.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2024
As the cloth becomes soiled, rinse in plain water, wring well, and dampen again with vinegar.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dampen 
Jason Ma, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2024
That’s as Fed officials and economic data have dampened optimism for many cuts.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2024
His no-filter ethos has drastically dampened his star power stateside, as fans in the U.S. have a fielder’s choice of reasons to be done with the iconic artist.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2024
As the cloth becomes soiled, rinse in plain water, wring well, and dampen again with vinegar.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dampen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dampen
Verb
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Add 7 tablespoons of the ice-cold water and pulse on and off to moisten.Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 1 Nov. 2024
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Try moistening baking soda with a degreasing dish liquid, or shake on a generous sprinkle of a non-scratching scouring powder, such as Bon Ami or Bar Keepers Friend.Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Jeni Brodsky, the trauma program manager at UC Health, said the goal in Cincinnati is to enroll half of all victims and reduce violence by 5% to 10% over three years.Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 30 Oct. 2024
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The idea is to reduce worry and frustration, not add to it with debt.Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Yet the video’s detailed mimicking of ballots in a key county in this year’s presidential race was a wake-up call that demonstrated how committed foreign actors are to undermining faith in the U.S. voting processin the critical stretch before voting concludes.Ali Swenson, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2024
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This weakens intergenerational connections and undermines both societal and workplace productivity.Sheila Callaham, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Critics have also alleged that the measure damps the housing market.Paloma Esquivel, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2024
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But the financial crisis roiled global markets soon after, damping car sales in developed economies.Shawn Tully, Fortune Asia, 10 Oct. 2024
Verb
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However, although most women have higher levels of intimacy with their friends and better companionship at 19 than men, that intimacy diminishes throughout their 20s.Anuradha Varanasi, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
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One light layer easily covered my mom’s redness, brightened her under-eye area, and diminished the look of dark spots.Cai Cramer, People.com, 23 Oct. 2024
Verb
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To stop the outbreak from spreading and protect children already weakened after nearly a year of bombardment, displacement and severe supply shortages, UNICEF worked with partners to organize an emergency polio vaccination campaign.Sarah Ferguson, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
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Many shampoos with harsh chemicals strip your natural oils and weaken your hair’s bonds, leading to damaged cuticles.Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 23 Oct. 2024
Verb
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To use a bluing bar, wet it and rub it directly on the stains prior to laundering.Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Sep. 2024
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To use De-Solv-it on lipstick stains, wet the stain with water and spray it with De-Solv-it, agitate the fabric by rubbing it against itself, and then launder the garment as usual.Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Simplicity, understood like this, is complexity well tended, just as a long, graceful line is a collection of stubby ones, tamed but not deadened.Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
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And the shine from his latest gold medal hasn’t come close to deadening.Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near dampen
Cite this Entry
“Dampen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dampen. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.
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