Synonyms of moist

moist

adjective

ˈmȯist 

as in damp

slightly or moderately wet

luckily, my new suede shoes are only a bit moist after I accidentally wore them in the rain

Synonyms & Similar Words

• damp
• humid
• dampish
• dank
• dripping
• soaked
• wettish
• soaking
• steeped
• dewy
• misty
• clammy
• saturated
• sticky
• soggy
• washed
• muggy
• tropical
• watered
• waterlogged
• sodden
• drenched
• sweltering
• bathed
• semimoist
• sopping
• water-soaked
• summery
• sultry
• saturate
• torrid
• soppy
• awash
• soused
• dowsed
• doused

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dry
• arid
• waterless
• burnt
• dehydrated
• baked
• droughty
• dusty
• burned
• scorched
• bone-dry
• parched
• desert
• sunbaked
• sear
• sere
• seared
• watertight
• waterproof
• water-resistant
• hyperarid
• ultradry
• water-repellent

Synonym Chooser

How is the word moist distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of moist are damp, dank, humid, and wet. While all these words mean "covered or more or less soaked with liquid," moist applies to what is slightly damp or not felt as dry.

treat the injury with moist heat

When might damp be a better fit than moist?

The words damp and moist are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 is it sensible to use dank instead of moist?

The meanings of dank and moist largely overlap; however, dank implies a more distinctly disagreeable or unwholesome dampness.

a prisoner in a cold, dank cell

Where would humid be a reasonable alternative to moist?

Although the words humid and moist have much in common, humid applies to the presence of much water vapor in the air.

a hot, humid climate

When can wet be used instead of moist?

The words wet and moist can be used in similar contexts, 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

Recent Examples of moist

However, a fruit fly can lay their eggs successfully in any soft, moist, organic material. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2025

The fact that most of their plants are drought tolerant and their dry swale retains a moist environment after catching the rain means another way to save and conserve water. —Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025

Many of the diseases that afflict shrubs, including roses, are caused by fungi that thrive in moist environments. —Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025

Any longer than that and the active ingredients in the brine and the au jus packet will make the chicken more mealy than moist. —Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2025