verb
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to make or become damp
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(tr) to stifle; deaden
Other Word Forms
- dampener noun
- undampened adjective
Etymology
Origin of dampen
Explanation
To dampen something is to stifle it, to lessen its effect, or to moisten it. Getting a cold will dampen your enthusiasm. This word has several related meanings, most of which make something less effective or powerful. Using a towel will dampen it in the sense of getting it wet, but dampening goes beyond things that are damp (wet). Bad news will dampen your mood, bringing it down. Boxing gloves dampen the force of punches because they cushion the blows. Anything dampened has been weakened and brought down a notch.
Vocabulary lists containing dampen
Out of the Dust
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
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Undefeated
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While the company has the means to fight in court, the domino effect from thousands of other pending cases could dampen investor enthusiasm for big AI advances.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026
The downpour didn't seem to dampen fans' spirits, either.
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026
This could eventually dampen demand for other products and further hurt the economy, Jefferson noted.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
Economists widely expect that the spike in gasoline prices—hovering above an average of $4 per gallon nationwide on Friday—will dampen consumer spending and likely weigh on economic growth in the second quarter.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
If being left alone yesterday had affected them, it didn’t dampen their excitement for the coming meal They jumped around, asking if there was garlic bread.
From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
