What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dampen
Example
The rain will dampen the ground and make it muddy. [dampen: verb]
Example
The negative reviews dampened our excitement for the movie. [dampened: past tense verb]
weaken
Example
The disease weakened his immune system. [weaken: verb]
Example
The argument weakened her position on the issue. [weakened: past tense verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Weaken is more commonly used than dampen in everyday language. Weaken is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while dampen is less common and more specific in its usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between dampen and weaken?
Both dampen and weaken are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.