How to Use dampen in a Sentence

dampen

verb
  • Dampen the spot with a wet cloth.
  • The shower barely dampened the ground.
  • We wouldn't let the bad weather dampen our excitement.
  • Use a wet cloth to dampen the stain first.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Clean the coils with a cloth dampened with dish soap.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 Nov. 2025
  • Clean the coils with a cloth dampened with dish soap.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 Nov. 2025
  • Use a cloth dampened with water to wipe off soap residue.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Be sure to spritz enough cleaner to dampen the cloth well.
    — Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 20 June 2026
  • And none of that was dampened by the score of a soccer match.
    — Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
  • Birch said the slats of wood are meant to help with sound dampening.
    — Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 21 May 2024
  • For dark stains, use a cloth dampened with cold water.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2025
  • The reefs dampen storm surges and waves that can tear apart shorelines.
    — Elizabeth Svoboda, Scientific American, 1 May 2021
  • Light, brief sprinkles could dampen a few spots in the pre-dawn hours.
    — A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 15 Dec. 2023
  • Next, wipe the curler down with a rag dampened with warm, soapy water.
    — Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2025
  • Lightly dampen a clean, lint-free cloth.
    — Bridget Reed Morawski, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Beads of sweat dampened her hairline.
    — Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
  • If enough come back, that might loosen up the job market and dampen wage growth.
    — Star Tribune, 17 July 2021
  • Next, slightly dampen your clean sponge.
    — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Lightly dampen it and wipe down the cord and body of each earbud.
    — Kim Komando, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2022
  • Use a soft cloth dampened with the solution to blot the stain.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
  • But none of this has dampened the their desires to train and compete.
    — Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Don’t let the Pisces last quarter moon dampen your mood.
    — Usa Today, USA Today, 8 June 2026
  • The Knicks didn’t let the absence of their star dampen their play.
    — Janis Carr, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2025
  • But the bad weather didn’t dampen the spirits of those about to rock.
    — Michele Amabile Angermiller, Variety, 29 Oct. 2021
  • Then, dampen a microfiber cloth to rinse off the excess soap.
    — Sara Rodrigues, House Beautiful, 6 Apr. 2021
  • Mullins was emotional and a few tears dampened his cheeks.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026
  • The luxe nature of these pieces won’t be dampened by sneakers.
    — Amber Rambharose, InStyle, 18 June 2026
  • Instead, there were flyovers but the day was dampened by rain.
    — Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Then use a cloth dampened with warm soapy water to wipe down the front every week.
    — Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Then use a cloth dampened with warm soapy water to wipe down the front every week.
    — Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dampen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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