dampeners

[/ˈdæmpənərz/]
nounpl: dampeners
amortecedores, abafadores, dispositivos de amortecimento
1. Devices or mechanisms that reduce the intensity, effect, or amplitude of something, such as vibrations, sound, or enthusiasm
The car's dampeners help absorb shock from the road.
Os amortecedores do carro ajudam a absorver o impacto da estrada.
2. Something that has a depressing or inhibiting effect on something else; a discouraging influence
The bad weather was a dampener on our outdoor plans.
O mau tempo foi um desestímulo para nossos planos ao ar livre.
3. In music, a device that reduces the volume or resonance of an instrument
Piano dampeners control which strings vibrate.
Os abafadores do piano controlam quais cordas vibram.
In Brazilian Portuguese, 'amortecedores' is predominantly used in automotive and mechanical contexts. The figurative sense of something that discourages or depresses enthusiasm is also used colloquially. In American English, 'dampener' is often used idiomatically to mean something that spoils fun or reduces excitement, which translates to phrases like 'desestímulo' or 'algo que estraga a diversão' in Portuguese.
NYC Slang
party pooper, buzzkill (colloquial equivalent when referring to something that dampens enthusiasm)
Synonyms / Sinônimos
shock absorberssilencersmufflersbufferssuppressorsinhibitorskilljoys
Antonyms / Antônimos
amplifiersenhancersacceleratorsboostersstimulants

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
amortecedores
Most common in automotive context; also abafadores for audio contexts
Rio de Janeiro
amortecedores
Standard usage similar to general Brazilian Portuguese
São Paulo
amortecedores
Standard usage, often used in technical and industrial contexts
Portugal
amortecedores, atenuadores
Atenuadores more common in technical contexts; amortecedores in automotive

Related Words

dampendampvibrationsuspensionabsorptionsuppression

Related Idioms & Phrases

a dampener on something
put a dampener on (something)
cast a dampener over
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