1
as in humid
containing or characterized by an uncomfortable amount of moisture
the damp air made 85 degrees feel like 105
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in moist
slightly or moderately wet
marks can usually be removed with a damp cloth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in moisture
the amount of water suspended in the air in tiny droplets
we bought a dehumidifier for the basement when the damp down there began causing mold to grow
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to drain
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality
refused to let the setbacks damp his drive for success
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2
as in to wet
to make or become slightly or moderately wet
damp the shirt slightly before ironing it
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3
as in to dull
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
nothing seemed to damp the unwelcome attentions of her suitor
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of damp
Sherri Gordon, Health, 29 Oct. 2025
Hair rollers should be used on slightly damp hair.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
Rachel Bujalski Veronique Greenwood, New York Times, 11 June 2024
The melodramatic piano music has put you on edge, as have the visible damp of the Savannah air and the oak trees dripping with moss.
—E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2023
Literary Hub, 8 Dec. 2025
Gardeners can circumvent that process by manually removing that pulp before providing the cold, damp treatment.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for damp
Adjective
Pat your skin dry with a towel and leave it somewhat damp.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 29 Oct. 2025
Hair rollers should be used on slightly damp hair.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
Invigorated by the damp, fungi living quietly in the soil sprout fruiting bodies.
—Rachel Bujalski Veronique Greenwood, New York Times, 11 June 2024
The melodramatic piano music has put you on edge, as have the visible damp of the Savannah air and the oak trees dripping with moss.
—E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2023
Verb
Watch Lotte return to her desk, face wiped clean, sleeve still damp.
—Literary Hub, 8 Dec. 2025
Gardeners can circumvent that process by manually removing that pulp before providing the cold, damp treatment.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for damp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damp
Adjective
-
The interaction with more humid air already in place will trigger rain and thunderstorms across West and North Texas.—
Newsroom Meteorologist,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The trade deadline is a month away, but the rumors are swirling like gnats on a humid day.—
Stan Son,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Leave the cuttings in place through the following fall, and water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
10 Jan. 2026
-
With so many insects packed together in moist and dark places — and all closely related, sharing the same genetic vulnerabilities — infections and diseases can quickly pose an enormous threat to the well-being of an ant colony.—
Arundathi Nair,
NPR,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The conditioner’s nourishing formula also tames frizz, boosts moisture, and enhances shine.—
Alyssa Morin,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
-
They’re made of the brand’s fast-drying fabric called Everlux, which wicks away moisture to prevent sweat marks and stains during even the most high-energy workouts.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Even seasoned travelers underestimate how quickly streaming and Bluetooth drain a phone or tablet at 35,000 feet.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Investments in controlling invasive species have led to a 75 percent reduction in the area overtaken by melaleuca, a particularly thirsty tree species introduced in the river of grass near the turn of the 20th century to help drain it.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Place chopped leaves in a large wire bin and wet each layer.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
30 Oct. 2025
-
But the comedy is absolutely something that wets my beak, I'm drawn to it.—
H. Alan Scott,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Long-term, alcohol damages the brain by shrinking white and gray matter, dulling rewards, and overactivating the stress system.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
6 Nov. 2025
-
But that did little to dull the vitriol targeting the military’s top lawyer.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Plant it in chunky potting soil—an orchid mix works—and give it warmth, humidity, and bright, indirect light.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Avoid painting when the temperature is below 60°F or the humidity is higher than 85 percent.—
Timothy Dale,
The Spruce,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The video evidence also appears to undermine elements of the government’s narrative of what happened.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Environmental and labor leaders say the pause is costing thousands of jobs and undermining energy independence.—
Carolyn Gusoff,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Damp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damp. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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