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

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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
It’s made of faux leather, which can be cleaned with a damp cloth, and is available in three colors. Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025 The bathroom reeked of mold, its windowless walls preventing damp towels from ever fully drying. Jeanne Malle, Air Mail, 4 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
Leaky pipes, faucets, roofs, or air conditioners can all create excess humidity and may lead to overly damp environments. Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025 The active damping system, the company said, increases off-road speed while boosting gunners’ hit probability and extending the life of subsystems. Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for damp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damp
Adjective
  • 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
  • For humid Southern climates, the Nexxus Anti-Humidity Spray and Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel are great for creating sleek and smooth hair.
    Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • If the soil is moist, the plant may be wilted because the soil is too wet and the roots are rotting.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 Oct. 2025
  • In addition, water has insulating properties, and moist soil holds onto heat and radiates warmth longer than dry soil.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • However, hot sun, freezing temperatures, and moisture will speed up decay.
    Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025
  • The 2025 Nobel Prize for Chemistry was awarded for the creation of metal-organic frameworks, molecular structures that can capture CO₂, filter pollutants from water, or trap moisture from desert air.
    Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • González, not known as a shooter when the Celtics drafted him, drained one of two 3-point attempts.
    Jay King, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Most indoor plants are watered from the top until the water drains from the pot through the drainage holes.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 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
  • Topping it with butter or sugary spreads will also dull any potential benefits.
    Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Instead of softener, add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle to naturally soften towels and remove detergent residue without dulling the color.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Heat and humidity have also affected the Shanghai Masters, which is running alongside the Wuhan Open.
    Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Large Patch Turfgrass fungi are always present, but disease occurs when environmental conditions are ideal for its development, namely during an extended period of humidity and cooler temperatures.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • One bad manager or leader can, in but a few months, undermine a team with decades of collective service to the organization.
    Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Whatever desire the audience might have to root for Kerr is undermined by his mounting failures in the ring and his growing friction with Dawn.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Damp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damp. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.

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