damp 1 of 4

adjective

Definition of dampnext
1
as in humid
containing or characterized by an uncomfortable amount of moisture the damp air made 85 degrees feel like 105

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2
as in moist
slightly or moderately wet marks can usually be removed with a damp cloth

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damp

2 of 4

noun (1)

ˈdamp How to pronounce damp (audio)
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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damp

3 of 4

verb

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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dampness

4 of 4

noun (2)

as in humidity
the amount of water suspended in the air in tiny droplets the dampness in the air made a mess of my new hairstyle

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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

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

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
If the clothes are damp, additional time may be needed. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 9 Apr. 2026 While functional in water or damp environments, buccal pumping limits oxygen intake and endurance. —Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
The qualifying round and first round of the women’s draw was played on Tuesday in damp, chillier conditions than usual. —Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026 Opened in 1927 as a high-rise apartment building but converted during the war years into an upscale stay, the Pontchartrain had suffered over decades of rising damp and tumbling fortunes. —Rick Bragg, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
Communications are based on copper cabling and voice-grade phone lines, the HVAC systems leave the installations prone to damp, and the layouts are generally cramped, making repairs difficult. —David Szondy april 05, New Atlas, 5 Apr. 2026 Through careful tuning of an extended Kalman filter and by taking advantage of bamboo’s natural vibration-damping properties, the system slashes control latency from 15–20 milliseconds down to just 8–10 milliseconds, enhancing responsiveness while keeping flight stable. —Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026
Noun
The dampness of the cloth is key — a dry cloth or feather duster can simply scatter dust particles into the air, while a moist microfiber cloth traps and holds them. —Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2026 The tip of his tongue was grazing her ear now, teasing it with dampness. —Literary Hub, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for damp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damp
  1. humid
  2. moist
  3. drain
  4. wet
  5. dull
  6. undermine
  7. moisten
  8. reduce
Adjective
  • The threat zone will shift each day depending on where surges of jet stream energy overlap with warm, humid air to trigger intense thunderstorm development.
    — Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Thunderstorms rumbled through the Chicago area Thursday afternoon amid unseasonably warm and humid weather, with temperatures running 20 degrees above average.
    — Kylee Miller, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Definition of humid
Adjective
  • The result is a hefty cake with a moist, tender crumb that needs little to no frosting (think of pound cake or banana bread).
    — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Jacob’s Ladder Also known as Greek valerian, Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium caeruleum) thrives in woodland settings with rich, consistently moist soil and cooler temperatures.
    — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 13 Apr. 2026
Definition of moist
Verb
  • Your 12th House of Silence hosts ambitious Mars, who’s cheering on Pluto in your 10th House of Audiences, turning private prep into public credibility without draining you.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026
  • This elegant plant thrives in full sun and well-draining soil, requiring minimal care.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 16 Apr. 2026
Definition of drain
Verb
  • Blot — don’t rub — and avoid over-wetting the mattress, which can lead to mold growth if moisture gets trapped inside.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Water at the base of plants instead of wetting the entire garden with a sprinkler or hose.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
Definition of wet
Verb
  • Mowing wet grass can also dull the blades.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 Apr. 2026
  • As the decades passed on, neither its sentiment nor its shine ever dulled.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
Definition of dull
Verb
  • The reason this feels so different to teachers than the tech panics of the past is that there is no clear solution to how AI is undermining nearly every aspect of education.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 13 Apr. 2026
  • The cost of maintaining death row prisoners and a number of botched executions in recent years—lethal injections or gas administrations that take far too long to work, for example—have also undermined confidence.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 13 Apr. 2026
Definition of undermine
Verb
  • After core aerating, water turf well to moisten the root zone.
    — Special to The Denver Post, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Using the back of a large spoon, gently press down on bread mixture to moisten.
    — Maddy Bendgen, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2026
Definition of moisten
Verb
  • Smith said after talking to Gregg, Wheels Up reduced the price to $850, but storage fees for having the car since April 1 bring the grand total to at least $2,600.
    — Liz Crawford, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Much like Vietnam, only a lot faster, the American war in Iran has reduced itself to saving face.
    — Louis Menand, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Definition of reduce

Browse Nearby Words

damn well
damp
damped
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Cite this Entry

“Damp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damp. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on damp

Nglish: Translation of damp for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about damp

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