Synonym Chooser

How is the word dank distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of dank are damp, humid, moist, and wet. While all these words mean "covered or more or less soaked with liquid," dank implies a more distinctly disagreeable or unwholesome dampness.

a prisoner in a cold, dank cell

In what contexts can damp take the place of dank?

In some situations, the words damp and dank are roughly equivalent. However, damp implies a slight or moderate absorption and often connotes an unpleasant degree of moisture.

clothes will mildew if stored in a damp place

When is humid a more appropriate choice than dank?

The words humid and dank are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, humid applies to the presence of much water vapor in the air.

a hot, humid climate

Where would moist be a reasonable alternative to dank?

The words moist and dank can be used in similar contexts, but moist applies to what is slightly damp or not felt as dry.

treat the injury with moist heat

When can wet be used instead of dank?

The meanings of wet and dank largely overlap; however, wet usually implies saturation but may suggest a covering of a surface with water or something (such as paint) not yet dry.

slipped on the wet pavement

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dank If Joan didn’t respond to Maya’s text, or anyone’s, maybe her life could remain the same: meager gigs, Paige’s twenty-one-year-long friendship, one-night stands, boiled vegetables in her dank apartment, the ocean loud and invisible beyond its walls. Literary Hub, 4 June 2025 Basements harbor even more humidity down below and can develop a dank smell from the growth of mold and mildew. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 26 May 2025 With a little effort and some creative additions, your dank deviled eggs will become the star of your Memorial Day spread! Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 26 May 2025 Accra, Ghana: In Ghana’s capital, follow a visit to a castle where captives waiting to be taken to the New World were held in dank dungeons with a trip to the Black Star of Africa sitting atop an arch, announcing Ghana’s independence. Gerald Narciso Jeremie Souteyrat, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dank
Adjective
  • Constant moisture and humidity from hot showers, less-than-ideal ventilation, and damp surfaces can make bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms prone to mold growth.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2025
  • The floors also dried quickly — much faster than with traditional mopping, so there was no tiptoing around damp areas.
    Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • These dreamy waffles are crisp and golden on the outside; moist, light and fluffy on the inside.
    Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025
  • After cleansing, my skin feels moist but not sticky.
    Sarah Y. Wu, Glamour, 24 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dank. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on dank

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