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

As the infection progresses, the infection bypasses the mucosa (the moist tissue lining the sinuses and nasal cavity) and enters the nerves, vessels, and bone. —Laura Schober, Health, 14 Apr. 2025

Spring is a transition time when the cold and dry air mass from the Arctic, which dominates the region in winter, is gradually being pushed away by warm and moist air from the Gulf that dominates the region in summer. —Shuang-Ye Wu, The Conversation, 8 Apr. 2025

At planting make sure the azalea root balls are moist. —Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2025

Stem Cutting When propagating by stem cuttings, a section of an actively growing stem is cut from the plant in spring or early summer and planted in moist potting soil. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2025