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to damp

to damp

26 4.8
To make a sound or feeling less strong
  • verb
  • /dæmp/
translation icon : amortiguar
  • The rain is expected to damp the festivities at the outdoor concert.
  • dampen vibration
  • dampen enthusiasm
  • dampen demand

The study found that traders also tended to join the auctions earlier, potentially damping big moves at the end of the day.

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Examples

  • She didn't want to damp his enthusiasm for the project with criticism.

  • He tried to damp their excitement with his pessimistic comments.

  • OK, you move past that, you damp down the storm and and it moves on.

  • But nothing is going to dampen the spirit of this holiday crowd, I can tell you that.

  • Nothing, it seemed, could dampen their spirits.

  • Um, I, uh, I didn't mean to dampen your mood.

  • You're not gonna let this dampen your spirits, are you?

  • But the chance of rain tonight won't dampen the spirits of Buddi fans, as this is the night they have been waiting for.

  • Clearly, information has the capacity to either amplify or dampen disorders within organizational systems.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Humans react to economic forecasts in ways that dampen or magnify the forecasts.

    Academic text (1992)

Synonyms

to weaken
vsto damp
305 2.8

To make people and things less strong or effective

adds the idea of muffling or softening beyond mere loss of power
to quiet
vsto damp
68 3.2

To make someone or something calm and less noisy

also covers reducing intensity of effects and muffling beyond simple calm
to muffle
vsto damp
64 5.8

To make a sound or feeling quieter so it is less noticeable

covers that idea but also applies to reducing general intensity beyond sound
to soften
vsto damp
50 3.1

Make something less strong or harsh

leans more to muffling or blunt reduction rather than only gentleness
to tone down
vsto damp
44 3.7

To make something less strong, for example a sound, color or feeling

is broader and can include physical muffling as well as tone reduction
to hush
vsto damp
33 3.4

Make a person or thing quiet so others stop making noise

is similar but also includes lessening strength or liveliness, not only silence
to dull
vsto damp
33 3.4

Cause something to become less sharp, strong or bright

focuses more on reducing strength and muffling than just blunting clarity
to mute
vsto damp
21 3.1

To stop a sound or notification from making noise

is broader and also applies to reducing intensity beyond just sound
to dampen
vsto damp
16 4.4

Make something less strong or noticeable, for example sound and feeling

is the same general reduction but also implies muffling effects
to put a damper on
vsto damp
  • Informal
11 5.8

Make something less fun or exciting

is more general and also implies muffling or softening of energy
to deaden
vsto damp
3 5.5

To make a feeling, sound, or pain less strong

is similar but also emphasizes muffling or softening rather than only dulling
to quieten
vsto damp
3 4.6

Make someone or something less noisy and calmer

is wider, also including muffling and lowering of overall intensity
to dampen spirits
vsto damp
2 4.9

Make someone feel less happy and excited

is broader, applying to weakening many things and muffling intensity too

Antonyms

424 4.0

Make something better or more attractive

110 4.0

Make something stronger or more intense

44 4.1

To make something larger, stronger, or more important

Compounds

1 9.2

An event that is much less exciting than people expected

7.9

A layer of waterproof material at the bottom of walls near the ground that stops moisture rising

A layer of waterproof material in a wall near the ground that stops water rising

How Reduced

to extinguish
21 5.5
to suppress
176 4.8
to damp
26 4.8
to lessen
34 2.8
to soften
50 3.1

Surface Forms

damp infinitive
damped past
damped past participle
damping present participle
damps third person singular

Etymology

Damp (verb) comes from an old word for 'moisture', so think of wetting something to slow its energy. Just like a wet cloth will dampen a sound, to damp something is to make it less strong or loud.