as in wetting
to make or become slightly or moderately wet
moisten the cloth before cleaning with it
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Recent Examples of moistening
For this, Langelo recommends moistening the soil to make the weeds easier to pull.
—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
26 Apr. 2026
Each watering session should deliver about 1/2 inch of water, moistening the soil to a depth of about 6 inches to support healthy root development.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
26 Apr. 2026
For indoor growers, Karsch recommends moistening your seed starting mix well before filling trays or small pots and planting, then keeping it moist with a spray bottle or mister.
—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
6 Apr. 2026
Your nose is better at warming and moistening the cold, dry air than your mouth.
—
Susan Russell,
Verywell Health,
23 Dec. 2025
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
26 Apr. 2026
Each watering session should deliver about 1/2 inch of water, moistening the soil to a depth of about 6 inches to support healthy root development.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
26 Apr. 2026
For indoor growers, Karsch recommends moistening your seed starting mix well before filling trays or small pots and planting, then keeping it moist with a spray bottle or mister.
—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
6 Apr. 2026
Your nose is better at warming and moistening the cold, dry air than your mouth.
—
Susan Russell,
Verywell Health,
23 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moistening
Verb
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Joanna Shoulder received the beating as discipline for wetting her bed, according to a homicide detective’s account of his interview of the girl’s father described in an arrest warrant affidavit.
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Irrigation should be applied at the base of the plant at the soil line to avoid wetting the blooms.
Verb
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According to the American Cleaning Institute, certain laundry additives function by coating fabric surfaces, meaning that residues may remain even after rinsing.
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If only mild signs are present, Lago recommends rinsing the dog’s mouth with water, either using a hose or a damp cloth.
Verb
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Hives, flushing, nausea and diarrhea are common.
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Another that pops up is that flushing a tick down the toilet is a good way to kill it.
Verb
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The car’s otherworldly handling begins there and is further enhanced by McLaren’s adaptive damping system on its double-wishbone independent suspension.
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There are also active road-preview sensors incorporated straight into the setup, which preemptively modify damping resistance according to incoming surface topology.
Verb
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Add the sheets to the dryer immediately after washing to prevent mildew—don't let damp sheets sit in the machine.
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After the father left the family, Nan Blyth supported herself and two daughters by washing clothes and working in beauty parlors.
Verb
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The survey snapped three consecutive months of dampening consumer sentiment, recovering from an all-time low in May, data showed.
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An inner cover allows moisture to condense without dampening the hive, and an outer cover protects the colony from inclement weather.
Cite this Entry
“Moistening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moistening. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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