as in to wet
to make or become slightly or moderately wet
moisten the cloth before cleaning with it
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Recent Examples of moisten
After leaving your stem cuttings or leaves to dry out for a couple of days, moisten the soil and place one cutting into each cup with the bases (or callouses) facing down.
—
Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 21 Feb. 2026
Add the 2/3 cup milk; stir until just moistened.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Feb. 2026
In a bowl toss vegetables with enough olive oil to moisten them.
—Faye Levy, Oc Register, 11 Feb. 2026
Occasionally lightly moisten the soil.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for moisten
Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 21 Feb. 2026
Add the 2/3 cup milk; stir until just moistened.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Feb. 2026
In a bowl toss vegetables with enough olive oil to moisten them.
—Faye Levy, Oc Register, 11 Feb. 2026
Occasionally lightly moisten the soil.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for moisten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moisten
Verb
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Lightly wet a microfiber cloth with warm water, being careful not to over-soak it.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
15 Mar. 2026
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Considerations Before Getting Started Before cleaning your sidewalks, gather some basic safety equipment such as gloves and eye protection, and protect plants and grass bordering your sidewalk from bleach and cleaners by wetting them down and covering them with plastic sheeting or old towels.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Removing the curtains from the dryer while slightly damp and rehanging them immediately will usually reduce the need to iron out wrinkles.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
11 Mar. 2026
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Even in the dark, damp understory of a Thai forest, this scorpion knows what’s moving around it.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For generations in Korea, people saved the milky water left over from rinsing rice and used it as a simple beauty treatment to make skin look brighter and smoother.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
22 Mar. 2026
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The turf gets hot in the heat of the day and urine and feces will create foul odors that won’t rinse away.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Hoover started washing dishes and worked his way up through every position, eventually rising to management during his 10 years at the restaurant.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Mar. 2026
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Its worn fleece still feels soft and the zipper doesn’t stick at all, even though it’s been washed countless times.—
The Editors,
Outside,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At the same time, China’s appetite for conflict has likely been dampened by struggles to support its slowing domestic economy, as well as a string of dismissals in the top echelons of its own military.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
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Still, Macy’s struck a cautious note by issuing a full-year outlook that fell shy of expectations, reflecting the possibility that tariffs and turmoil from the war in Iran could dampen spending.—
Bloomberg Wire,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Ananda doctors believe that a massage at least every ten days is essential to flush out toxins and stimulate neurotransmitters.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
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To clear drains and prevent odor, pour baking soda followed by white vinegar down drains, then flush it with hot water, Klemova says.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Moisten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moisten. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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