dampen

[ dam-puhn ]

See synonyms for: dampen dampened dampening dampener on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to make damp; moisten: to dampen a sponge.
to dull or deaden; depress: to dampen one's spirits.

damp (def. 11).

verb (used without object)

to become damp.

Origin of dampen

First recorded in 1620–30; damp + -en¹

Other words from dampen

damp·en·er, noun
un·damp·ened, adjective

Words that may be confused with dampen

damp, dampen

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use dampen in a sentence

When sports did return, they did so with mostly empty stadiums and fan bases whose interest in sports was dampened by the pandemic and a dizzying political-news cycle.
ESPN announces hundreds of layoffs as pandemic, cord-cutting upend sports television | Ben Strauss | November 5, 2020 | Washington Post
That’s already heavily depressed because of the coronavirus, but protests and, especially, rioting would probably dampen it even further.
What a contested election means for the economy — and your wallet | Heather Long | November 4, 2020 | Washington Post
To help dampen tech sector worries as much as possible, portfolio managers earmarked a few names that may be somewhat out of the crosshairs from either election result in Fortune’s Q4 investor guide, including Microsoft and Taiwan Semiconductor.
How the election results could impact tech investors | Anne Sraders | November 2, 2020 | Fortune
Facebook beat expectations in the quarter, but rising costs seemed to dampen investor sentiment.
Is the Great 2020 Tech Rally slowing? | Alex Wilhelm | October 30, 2020 | TechCrunch
If scrolling through grim news feeds is dampening their mood, encourage them to take a social media break.
Six ways adults can help children make sense of a divisive election | Phyllis Fagell | October 29, 2020 | Washington Post

All of those other impediments have dampened the enthusiasm of pot investors and pot entrepreneurs.
Justice Department: Good News for Recreational Stoners | Winston Ross | August 30, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
The allure of working in the drug trade is strong for many, especially in areas where violence has dampened tourism.
As Drug War Continues, Mexico Celebrates Its Deceased | Teresa Puente | November 2, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
And forces beyond his control (Europe) have clearly dampened the recovery.
Niall Ferguson Defends Newsweek Cover: Correct This, Bloggers | Niall Ferguson | August 21, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
The creative energy that had made it the center of European literature before the war was dampened.
Great New Reads | The Daily Beast | October 31, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
Besides, the mortifying experience at the Paris Exposition has dampened even my perennially youthful enthusiasm.
In Search of the Unknown | Robert W. Chambers
A tight-fitting shoe can be stretched by filling it tightly with oats dampened in water and packing some old paper in the top.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2 | Various
The flames were eating the image slowly, as the cloth and straw was moist, and the snow flakes further dampened them.
Tom Fairfield's Schooldays | Allen Chapman
Use a dampened broom or dust cloth frequently in the kitchen if you wish to preserve foods from molds.
A Civic Biology | George William Hunter
When this is accomplished, rub the floor with a soft thick cloth dampened with polish.
The Library of Work and Play: Housekeeping | Elizabeth Hale Gilman

British Dictionary definitions for dampen

dampen

/ (ˈdæmpən) /

verb

to make or become damp
(tr) to stifle; deaden

Derived forms of dampen

dampener, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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