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 Fungi and bacteria thrive in wet, humid conditions. Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025 Keep them in a hot, humid area? Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2025 Southern live oaks draped in Spanish moss that tower and twist over city squares, Neoclassical Antebellum architecture, gas lamps that flicker over uneven cobblestone paths, and a humid subtropical climate that hangs heavy in the air. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2025 Some milky toners even pull double duty as a moisturizer replacement, which is perfect for those who live in humid climates or anyone with naturally oilier skin. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 18 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for humid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humid
Adjective
  • Rinse the area by using a damp cloth from cold water to remove the soapy mixture.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Insert the cutting in a 4-inch pot filled with damp, well-draining potting mix.
    Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Next, add the pumpkin and peanut butter and blend until the mixture is sticky.
    Cody Godwin, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
  • At the heart of this first of what could be many such trials is the premise that social media and its algorithms and sticky attraction have harsh consequences of thoughts of suicide, depression, sleep disruption, eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and anxiety.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

More from Merriam-Webster on humid

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