damp 1 of 3

damp

2 of 3

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

damp

3 of 3

verb

1
2
3

Synonym Chooser

How is the word damp distinct from other similar adjectives?

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

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

a prisoner in a cold, dank cell

When could humid be used to replace damp?

While the synonyms humid and damp are close in meaning, humid applies to the presence of much water vapor in the air.

a hot, humid climate

When can moist be used instead of damp?

The meanings of moist and damp largely overlap; however, moist applies to what is slightly damp or not felt as dry.

treat the injury with moist heat

When is wet a more appropriate choice than damp?

The synonyms wet and damp are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 damp
Adjective
The once-damp rainforest canopy could shift to a dry savanna for at least several centuries. Alexandra A Phillips, The Conversation, 13 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
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
To re-create the style, Abramite recommends adding mousse to damp hair and blow-drying with a diffuser while scrunching for volume at the roots and expansion throughout. Marci Robin, Allure, 9 Oct. 2025 Full fenders keep detritus and damp stuff at bay, and Tektro hydraulic brakes providing stopping power. New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for damp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damp
Adjective
  • Fungi and bacteria thrive in wet, humid conditions.
    Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
  • The air creates the moist, humid environment termites seek.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Many reviewers found that this dehumidifier held up well, even in extremely moist basements.
    Christopher Murray may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Try to keep the soil evenly moist.
    Steve Bender, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Warmer air, for example, boosts evaporation, which leads to more moisture entrained in the atmosphere, intensifying rainfalls, while warmer oceans provide an energy source for more violent hurricanes.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Aerotrunk Compression Packing Cubes 6-pack The Aerotrunk compression packing cubes are made of moisture-resistant nylon twill and breathable mesh panels.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • So much for draining the swamp.
    Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Maye hit Boutte on a back-shoulder throw in Sunday’s win over the Saints that allowed the Patriots to kneel on the ball, drain the clock and emerge victorious.
    Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • To help keep leaves, whole or chopped, in place during high winds or flooding rains, wet them down with a hose.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 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
  • The emotions that drive decisions at the top of the free-agent market — sentimentality, desperation, urgency — are dulled by the organization’s adherence to process.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • It’s made of 100 percent solid acacia wood, which is great for cooking thanks to its water-resistant and durable finish that won’t dull your knives.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Potatoes cure best in warm, dark locations with good airflow, high humidity, and a temperature range between 45°F and 60°F.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Bentonville is particularly appealing in the fall, when the temperatures and humidity drop and the autumn colors arrive—the perfect conditions for biking.
    Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In the view of many faculty members, Baccarelli had undermined the public position Harvard spent months cultivating—as a beacon of academic integrity, unwilling to bend to the administration’s political pressure.
    Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Even before the shutdown gripped Washington, there were mounting Democratic complaints that Trump would undermine any government funding deals struck by Congress with his use of pocket rescissions, aimed at canceling spending unilaterally at the end of a fiscal year.
    Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 16 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Damp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damp. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on damp

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!