1
: a dulling or deadening influence
put a damper on the celebration
2
: a device that damps: such as
a
: a valve or plate (as in the flue of a furnace) for regulating the draft
b
: a small felted block to stop the vibration of a piano string
c
chiefly British
: shock absorber
3
Australia
: a simple usually unleavened bread of a kind made originally in the Australian bush
Examples of damper in a Sentence
the pianist used the damper pedal on the piano for the quiet passages
Recent Examples on the Web
After all, nothing puts a damper on a travel outfit quicker than creases from being stuffed inside luggage.
—
Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
This can put a damper on productivity for business travelers, but has nothing to do with the hotel (and everything to do with government regulations).
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026
The vehicle also features a closed dual-chamber air suspension system and dual-valve CCD electromagnetic dampers designed to improve ride comfort, stability, and handling dynamics.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 9 May 2026
While the rotary knob that surrounds the ignition button provides quick access to the various drive modes (which includes a customizable Individual mode), hard buttons for features like damper stiffness and exhaust volume allow for specific alterations to the driving experience on the fly.
—Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for damper
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Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
This can put a damper on productivity for business travelers, but has nothing to do with the hotel (and everything to do with government regulations).
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026
The vehicle also features a closed dual-chamber air suspension system and dual-valve CCD electromagnetic dampers designed to improve ride comfort, stability, and handling dynamics.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 9 May 2026
While the rotary knob that surrounds the ignition button provides quick access to the various drive modes (which includes a customizable Individual mode), hard buttons for features like damper stiffness and exhaust volume allow for specific alterations to the driving experience on the fly.
—Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for damper
Cite this Entry
“Damper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/damper. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
damper
noun
damp·er
ˈdam-pər 
: one that damps : as
a
: a valve or plate (as in the flue of a furnace) for regulating the draft
b
: a device (as one of the felt-covered pieces of wood in a piano) used to deaden vibrations or oscillations
c
: a dulling or deadening influence
put a damper on the celebration
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