moisten

verb

ˈmȯi-sᵊn How to pronounce moisten (audio)
Definition of moistennext
as in to wet
to make or become slightly or moderately wet moisten the cloth before cleaning with it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of moisten After watering, dig a small hole to check if the top 6 inches or so of soil are moistened. — Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026 Avoid sprinklers, which will moisten the stems and leaves more than the base of the plant; more water will evaporate than soak into your plants' roots. — Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 4 July 2026 Fan and towels There are dozens of cooling products soccer lovers can use to stay cool, such as portable fans and hand towels that can be moistened with water. — Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 18 June 2026 Blinking encourages tears that moisten your eyes. — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for moisten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moisten
  1. wet
  2. damp
  3. rinse
  4. wash
  5. dampen
  6. flush
Verb
  • Arrange some small, flat stones around the puddle to give the butterflies a place to land, and then add enough water to moisten or wet the sand.
    — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Pyne argues that Mediterranean Europe, much like California, is naturally predisposed to burn because of an annual cycle of wetting and drying.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of wet
Verb
  • For the best results, Bataille recommends applying it to damp hair, concentrating at the roots, then blow-drying the hair up and away from the scalp to maximize volume.
    — Iman Balagam, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The swingarm geometry has been revised, and there is a new linkage system that has improved damping.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of damp
Verb
  • Instead, use regular water to rinse any leftover products away before trying the next one.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The roller rotates constantly and gets rinsed with clean water, so the part touching the car always stays clean.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of rinse
Verb
  • If there isn’t room in the dishwasher for a container and its lid, wait for the next cycle or hand wash them to ensure both top and bottom are clean at the same time.
    — Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The messages were created using temporary chalk and power-washing techniques, with a cleanup plan in place from the outset.
    — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of wash
Verb
  • Officials noted that the rainstorm could help dampen the spread of the fire but also brings strong winds that could further elevate fire risk.
    — Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Higher interest rates are the Fed's most potent weapon to temper high inflation because costlier borrowing can dampen purchasing demand, helping to cool the economy.
    — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of dampen
Verb
  • An interesting note about Prawdzik’s study is that where cover types could be recorded, 90 percent of the birds shot were flushed from aspen stands containing lowland-brush understories.
    — Tom Huggler, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
  • In particular, crews are concentrating on keeping the town’s lift stations operating so that residents can continue to flush their toilets.
    — Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of flush

Browse Nearby Words

moist
moisten
moistened
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Cite this Entry

“Moisten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moisten. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on moisten

Nglish: Translation of moisten for Spanish Speakers

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