What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dampen
Example
The rain dampened the ground, making it muddy. [dampened: past tense]
Example
The bad news dampened his spirits and he became quiet. [dampened: verb]
drench
Example
The sudden downpour drenched us to the bone. [drenched: past participle]
Example
She drenched the cloth in water before wiping the table. [drenched: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Dampen is more commonly used than drench in everyday language. Dampen is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while drench is less common and often used in specific situations where complete saturation is involved.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between dampen and drench?
Both dampen and drench are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
