Synonyms of dry

dry 1 of 3

adjective

ˈdrī 

1

as in thirsty

marked by little or no precipitation or humidity

the dry climate of the American Southwest

Synonyms & Similar Words

• thirsty
• droughty
• arid
• waterless
• sere
• desert
• desertic
• air-dry
• bone-dry
• baked
• dehydrated
• parched
• sunbaked
• rainless
• desertlike
• hyperarid
• ultradry
• xerothermic

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wet
• moist
• damp
• humid
• saturated
• soggy
• dank
• dripping
• soaked
• washed
• sodden
• soaking
• bathed
• watered
• waterlogged
• drenched
• watery
• flooded
• awash
• drowned
• submerged
• sopping
• soppy
• hydrated
• soused
• doused
• overflowed
• inundated
• deluged
• swamped

2

as in boring

causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest

a very dry topic for a lecture at a museum of natural history

Synonyms & Similar Words

• boring
• slow
• tiring
• dusty
• dull
• weary
• stupid
• old
• heavy
• wearying
• arid
• tame
• annoying
• irritating
• drab
• uninteresting
• tedious
• monotonous
• pedestrian
• colorless
• stale
• leaden
• tiresome
• stodgy
• dreary
• flat
• wearisome
• stuffy
• monochromatic
• humdrum
• numbing
• ponderous
• soggy
• sterile
• pallid
• jejune
• ho-hum
• exhausting
• barren
• draining
• gray
• mind-numbing
• blank
• jading
• drudging
• dullish
• blah
• uneventful
• prosy
• prosaic
• unexciting
• spiritless
• unimaginative
• uninspiring
• aseptic
• inanimate
• unspectacular
• unrewarding
• pedantic
• undramatic
• bothersome
• earthbound
• irksome
• ordinary
• fatiguing
• wearing
• unsensational
• suspenseless
• debilitating
• discouraging
• unnewsworthy
• common
• pleasureless
• tepid
• cumbersome
• vapid
• dispiriting
• commonplace
• enervating
• unexceptional
• demoralizing
• poky
• disheartening
• longsome
• plodding
• unsurprising
• lumbering
• palling
• enfeebling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• interesting
• involving
• engaging
• wonderful
• absorbing
• intriguing
• gripping
• riveting
• engrossing
• spectacular
• surprising
• amazing
• exciting
• wondrous
• stimulating
• sensational
• awesome
• astonishing
• entertaining
• marvelous
• fabulous
• inspiring
• amusing
• exhilarating
• stirring
• astounding
• breathtaking
• thrilling
• moving
• energizing
• attractive
• electrifying
• rousing
• charming
• touching
• poignant
• fascinating
• animating
• invigorating
• enchanting
• enlivening
• alluring
• attracting
• enthralling
• beguiling
• galvanizing
• rip-roaring
• entrancing
• bewitching
• diverting
• eye-opening
• hair-raising
• suspenseful
• provocative
• captivating
• tantalizing
• spellbinding
• mesmerizing
• arresting

3

as in detached

having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others

a dry temperament that suited him well in a desk job that required no interaction with the customers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• detached
• cold
• distant
• cool
• reserved
• withdrawn
• remote
• frosty
• aloof
• silent
• offish
• timid
• professional
• clinical
• antisocial
• standoffish
• unsociable
• unbending
• hard
• shy
• asocial
• unclubbable
• buttoned-up
• standoff
• cold-eyed
• reclusive
• introverted
• recessive
• indifferent
• dispassionate
• indrawn
• unconcerned
• impersonal
• unsocial
• apathetic
• uninterested
• misanthropic
• disinterested
• taciturn
• incurious
• reticent
• uncommunicative
• diffident
• nongregarious
• cliquish
• clubbish
• cliquey

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• warm
• social
• friendly
• cordial
• sociable
• outgoing
• convivial
• companionable
• gregarious
• expansive
• extroverted
• boon
• communicative
• talkative
• garrulous
• hospitable
• gracious
• clubby
• genial
• folksy
• affable
• clubbable
• congenial
• amiable
• agreeable
• kindly
• neighborly

dry

2 of 3

verb

1

as in to scorch

to make dry

the wind quickly dried their clothes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scorch
• drain
• desiccate
• bake
• dehydrate
• parch
• sear
• evaporate
• dehumidify
• air-dry
• shrivel
• wither
• mummify
• wizen

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wet
• wash
• water
• soak
• hydrate
• flood
• damp
• saturate
• drown
• bathe
• overflow
• moisten
• inundate
• drench
• dampen
• douse
• deluge
• waterlog
• sop
• humidify
• swamp
• dip
• souse
• submerge
• rehydrate
• dunk

2

as in to fade

to lose liveliness, force, or freshness

his creative talents were just drying on the vine in that small, provincial town

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fade
• wither
• wilt
• shrivel
• mummify
• decrease
• diminish
• wane
• wizen
• decline
• lessen

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• revive
• freshen
• flourish
• thrive
• bloom
• grow
• prosper
• increase
• develop
• wax
• peak
• surge
• crest

dry

3 of 3

noun

as in prohibitionist

Related Words

• prohibitionist
• abstainer
• teetotaler
• teetotalist
• nondrinker

Dissimilar Words

• drinker
• alcoholic
• drunk
• wet
• inebriate
• drunkard
• sot
• souse
• bibber
• tippler
• boozer
• barfly
• boozehound

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of dry

Adjective

The shea butter lip balm helps soothe dry lips, while the rich hand cream keeps skin feeling soft and moisturized. — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2026

After cutting back foliage and cleaning the bulbs, cure them by air-drying them in a warm, dry spot. — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 28 Oct. 2026

Verb

Our selections include gift ideas under $50, like quick-drying performance half-zips or customizable book weights from Quince and Leatherology. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026

To keep your white towels fluffy, avoid using too much detergent, ensure thorough rinsing to remove any residue, and dry them on a low heat setting. — Anyssa Roberts, The Spruce, 28 Oct. 2026

Phrases Containing dry

• dry nurse
• dry run
• dry up
• high and dry