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

The pork will stay moist, and its juices will have time to mingle with the sauce. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 6 May 2025

Full sun Soil Type: Medium to moist, well-draining, rich Soil pH: Acidic to slightly alkaline (5.5-7.5) USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9 Rose of Sharon makes up for its bare winter branches by producing large colorful blooms summer through fall. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 May 2025

Do keep the plants moist and apply a houseplant fertilizer once a month during the warm growing season. —Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2025

Plant them in small pockets of mixed colors in a cool, moist corner of a perennial garden. —Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Apr. 2025