wet 1 of 3

adjective

ˈwet How to pronounce wet (audio)
Definition of wetnext
1
as in dripping
containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water I left the car windows open while it rained, and the seats got all wet

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2
as in rainy
marked by or abounding with rain a wet and dreary day

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3
as in drunk
being under the influence of alcohol designated a driver so the others could get wet and make it home safely at the end of the night

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4
as in sticky
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way things get more than a little wet during the opera's big death scene

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5
as in weak
British lacking strength of will or character employees of the company despised their boss as a wet and ineffectual bloke

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wet

2 of 3

noun

as in rain
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity winced as he walked out into the wet without any protection

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wet

3 of 3

verb

as in to drown
to make wet you need to wet your hair thoroughly first

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word wet distinct from other similar adjectives?

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

When is it sensible to use damp instead of wet?

The meanings of damp and wet largely overlap; 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 can dank be used instead of wet?

While the synonyms dank and wet are close in meaning, dank implies a more distinctly disagreeable or unwholesome dampness.

a prisoner in a cold, dank cell

Where would humid be a reasonable alternative to wet?

In some situations, the words humid and wet are roughly equivalent. However, humid applies to the presence of much water vapor in the air.

a hot, humid climate

In what contexts can moist take the place of wet?

The words moist and wet are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, moist applies to what is slightly damp or not felt as dry.

treat the injury with moist heat

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 wet
Adjective
Poor drainage can lead to root rot, especially if your lavender is planted in an area with wet or clay-heavy soil. —Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Nov. 2025 Do not approach water, wet objects, or metal items. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
Certified instructors continue teaching his wet-on-wet oil painting technique to the masses, and the Smithsonian acquired several of his works for its permanent collection in 2019. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 8 Oct. 2025 On a wet, rainy night in Orlando, the Jayhawks prevailed in a one-score game against the UCF Knights. —Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
Increase the resistance on this exercise by wetting the towel first. —Aubrey Bailey, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025 Update irrigation The goal of irrigation is to wet plant roots. —Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wet
  1. dripping
  2. rainy
  3. drunk
  4. sticky
  5. weak
  6. rain
  7. drown
  8. saturated
Adjective
  • Water was dripping from a soda machine tube at the customer self-service area.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The staff, for one, will don uniforms with a double-breasted peak lapel and dripping in blues and white piping.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025
Definition of dripping
Adjective
  • The Amazon Unlike Brazil’s major cities, where the action ramps up in summer, the Amazon starts to quiet down in large part because of the arrival of the rainy season, which is at its peak from December to March.
    — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
  • While spring is the most popular climbing season, as weather is favorable on tall peaks, hundreds of foreign climbers come to climb smaller peaks during the autumn, between the rainy monsoon months and winter.
    — Manish Paudel, NBC news, 4 Nov. 2025
Definition of rainy
Adjective
  • Helga once wrestled down a drunk fisherman in the Café, a man of above-average size, and then threw him out like a piece of rubbish; Jens thus transfers most of his weight automatically to her; who is this kid, by the way?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
  • The image featured a glass of white wine next to a cup of green juice that was partially drunk.
    — Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Definition of drunk
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
Definition of sticky
Adjective
  • Western countries could exploit weak points in supply chains for many of Russia's advanced fighter jets, including by tightening up sanctions as Ukraine strikes Russia's industrial facilities, according to a new report.
    — Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Respiratory difficulty, constipation, poor feeding, drooping eyelids and a weak and altered cry are among the symptoms of infant botulism.
    — Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Nov. 2025
Definition of weak
Noun
  • When heavy rain occurs, there is a potential for flooding, particularly in areas that are low-lying or prone to floods.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025
  • For one night, under cold rain and flickering red lights, the noise faded.
    — Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Definition of rain
Verb
  • One villager has drowned in flash floods in the eastern province of Catanduanes, officials confirmed to the Associated Press, while another died in Catbalogan city in eastern Samar province after being pinned by debris from a collapsed home.
    — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Even more poignant, however, is the Rosemary's Baby angle, where the innocence of childhood is drowned in blood and the notion that a young person reared in a loving environment should develop into a compassionate adult is perverted into unthinkable horror.
    — Alan Bradley, Space.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Definition of drown
Adjective
  • This eating plan focuses on foods with a variety of nutrients such as green leafy vegetables, fish and whole grains that are beneficial for cognitive function and don’t include ones with high amounts of trans and saturated fats.
    — Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Flow Space, 7 Nov. 2025
  • With traditional entertainment, games, TikTok, GenAI, and more competing for fans’ attention, audiences seem more saturated than ever before.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
Definition of saturated

Phrases Containing wet

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westerly
wet
wet behind the ears
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Cite this Entry

“Wet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wet. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

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