An applicator for dispensing a liquid conformal coating material onto a substrate. The applicator includes a body assembly with a liquid flow passage having a liquid inlet adapted to receive the coating material and a liquid outlet. A valve seat is positioned between the liquid flow passage and the liquid outlet. A valve stem is mounted in the body assembly for reciprocating movement between an open position and a closed position. The valve stem includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the valve stem engages the valve seat in the closed position to stop flow of the liquid coating material through the outlet and disengages from the valve seat in the open position to allow flow of the liquid coating material through the outlet. A valve actuating mechanism is operative to move the valve stem from the open position to the closed position and is further operative to move the valve stem from the closed position to the open position. A resilient dampening element is operatively coupled between part of the body assembly and the valve stem. The resilient dampening element provides a biasing force against the valve stem as the valve stem moves from the closed position to the open position to reduce rebounding movement of the valve stem toward the closed position.