What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
damped
Example
The vibrations were damped by the shock absorbers. [damped: verb]
Example
The damped oscillations gradually came to a stop. [damped: adjective]
attenuated
Example
The attenuated signal was difficult to detect. [attenuated: adjective]
Example
The vaccine attenuated the severity of the illness. [attenuated: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Attenuated is more commonly used than damped in everyday language. Attenuated has a wider range of applications and can be used in both technical and non-technical contexts, while damped is more specialized and typically used in mechanical or acoustic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between damped and attenuated?
Both damped and attenuated have technical and specialized connotations, making them more formal than everyday language. However, attenuated is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
