Synonym Chooser

How is the word humid distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of humid are damp, dank, moist, and wet. While all these words mean "covered or more or less soaked with liquid," humid applies to the presence of much water vapor in the air.

a hot, humid climate

When is it sensible to use damp instead of humid?

While the synonyms damp and humid are close in meaning, 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 would dank be a good substitute for humid?

In some situations, the words dank and humid are roughly equivalent. However, dank implies a more distinctly disagreeable or unwholesome dampness.

a prisoner in a cold, dank cell

In what contexts can moist take the place of humid?

The synonyms moist and humid are sometimes interchangeable, but moist applies to what is slightly damp or not felt as dry.

treat the injury with moist heat

Where would wet be a reasonable alternative to humid?

The meanings of wet and humid 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 humid Soaking rainfall began over the region Thursday night as increasingly humid air arrived. Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2025 These features have already inspired potential uses such as capturing carbon dioxide from the air to reduce greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, pulling clean water from humid air, and delivering medicines inside the body. Bohong Zhang, The Conversation, 10 Oct. 2025 Visiting Atlanta for the first time, the duo noted how hot, humid and friendly the city is. Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2025 Given the country’s proximity to the equator, the paddock endures hot and humid conditions when the September race arrives. Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for humid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humid
Adjective
  • Wipe the area again with a clean damp cloth to remove any soapy residue, then follow with a clean dry cloth to thoroughly dry the wood.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Fast-absorbing and never greasy, the oil should be applied like a leave-in treatment on damp or dry hair before styling.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • To keep them from being a problem indoors in the first place, hang sticky traps in the garage near entrances to your home.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2025
  • That engagement with the sport – that sticky thing that separates casual viewers from lifelong fans — is buoyed and sustained online in the days between races.
    Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • What To Know In a media advisory shared with Newsweek on Wednesday, AccuWeather said cooler air sweeping in and colliding with warm, muggy conditions will spark rounds of severe storms through the week’s end.
    Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Also common: sitting in a muggy bathroom while the shower is running, or wrapping a super-hot, wet towel on their head.
    Megan McIntyre, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Humid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humid. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on humid

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