The defeat didn't dampen his spirits.
Source: tatoeba (282433)
Dampen
/ˈdæmpən/
Synonyms for "dampen" (410 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (82)
Strong matches (123)
dashde emphasizede-emphasizedeadendeafendebilitatedecreasedeductdeflatedeflectdejectdelaydemoralizedepreciatedepressdetaindeterdevitalizedewdiminish
Show 51 more words
disaffectdiscouragedisheartendisinclinedisinterestdispiritdistractdivertdouchedowngradedownplaydullenervateenfeebleeviscerateexhaustextenuategruelhinderhold backhold in checkhold uphosehose downhumecthumectatehumidifyimpedeindisposeinhibitinterceptinterfereintermeddleinterruptinterveneirrigatekeep backkeep in checkkeep within boundsknock downlaylay lowlenifylessenlightenlourlowerlower the spiritsmeddlemitigatemoderate
Verb(27 words)
deadendeadeneddeadensdeafensdesensitizesdilutediminish impactdisarmsdiscourage participationdisheartensdispiritsdousedouseddousesdrippeddulldullsenervatesextinguishextinguishes
Show 7 more words
Noun(20 words)
deadeningdeescalatingdilute brothdilute solventdrinking water plantdullingfade outform with watergloomh2oshumidifyinghydratehydrated compoundhydrateshydratinghydration moleculelandscape without watermistingmistsmoder humus form
Adjective(5 words)
Related words (205)
Verb(38 words)
moderatemoderatedmoisten clothmoisten cropsmoistenedmoistensmoisturizemoisturizedmoisturizesmollifiesmuffedmutemuted patternneutralizesquellsreducerehydraterubberizeshriveledsilents
Show 18 more words
slakessoundproofedstiflestifledstultifiedstultifiesstultifysubduedsubduessuppressedtone downwashwatered siteweaken spoken performanceweakenswetwetswetted
Noun(61 words)
moderatingmoderatormoisten the papermoisteningmore dutch watermore wateredmost wateredmuffingmufflesmufflingmuffsmutingnumbingovercastovercastingovercastsovercloudpaper becomes moistquietingsaline moistening solution
Show 41 more words
silence the criticssilence the noiseslowing growthsmoothssofteningsoil becomes moistsound dampingsoundproofingsoundproofsspritzesstring mutesubduingwater claywater containing compoundwater distributionwater gentlywater in liquid formwater layerwater masswater moleculeswater needswater potted plantswater prefixwater reservewater seedling carewater seedling growthwater seedling traywater supplieswater typewatering labelwatering methodwatering plantswatering setupwatering slowlywatering softlywatering systemwaterswell watered fieldwet the paperwetland waterwetting
modulatemoistenmufflemuteneutralizeobtundoffsetopposeoppresspaddlepalliatepareplay downpress downput offquenchrattlereducereduce the temperaturerepel
Show 74 more words
repressresistrestrainretardretrenchroll backsaddensapscale downscotchset backshakeshake upshortenshow considerationshow mercyshow pitysilencesimplifysinkslackenslobberslopsloshslow downsmothersnubsobersober downsoft pedalsoft-pedalsoftensoften the blowsoften upspargespattersplashsplatterspongespraysprinklestep downstiflestopsubduesuppressswashsyringetake fromtake the edge offtametempertonetone downtune downturn asideturn awayturn fromturn offunbraceundermineunderplayunmanunnerveunstrengthenunstringwaterweakenweanwean fromweigh heavy uponweigh uponwetwet down
Determiner(3 words)
more mutemore watering canno plan to water
Adverb(1 words)
most dutch water
Adjective(8 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: moisten, muffle, soften, weaken, abate.
- Sentence evidence is available for dampen, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "dampen".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "dampen"
Keep "dampen" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "dampen" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "dampen", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "dampen" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
21 entriesShowing 16 of 21 words.
More specific
10 entriesdampen curiositydampen enthusiasmdampen expectationsdampen interestfabric dampeningpaper dampeningsoil dampeningsound dampingstructural dampingvibration damping
Collocations
5 entriesdampen enthusiasmdampen flamesdampen noisedampen spiritsdampen vibration
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesSample sentences
11 total sentences available.
Not even you can dampen my spirits right now!
Source: tatoeba (1272963)
Dampen the edges of the pastry in the dish with a little cold water, cover with the lid, press the edges firmly together, and crimp to decorate.
Source: tatoeba (3560469)
At first glance, Titan looks a lot like Earth. Lakes and seas are scattered across the northern hemisphere, and occasional rains dampen its sandy surface.
Source: tatoeba (8076740)
Showing 4 of 11 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "dampen"?
Closest matches include moisten, muffle, soften, weaken, abate.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "dampen"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.