moistening

verb

present participle of moisten
as in wetting
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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moistening
  1. wetting
  2. rinsing
  3. flushing
  4. damping
  5. washing
  6. dampening
Verb
  • The mountain thunderstorms are expected to continue Monday and Tuesday but should be accompanied by wetting rains that dampen fire risk, with about a tenth of an inch of precipitation, Molina said.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Water in the morning deeply at the base of the plant using a soaker hose, avoiding wetting the leaves to prevent fungal diseases.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 July 2026
Definition of wetting
Verb
  • Leave the mixture to sit for up to ten minutes before rinsing away.
    — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 22 July 2026
  • For leafy greens like lettuce, the agency recommends rinsing the inner leaves thoroughly under clean, running water after discarding the outer layers.
    — Olivia LaBorde, AJC.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of rinsing
Verb
  • This includes a walk-in shower, with a flushing toilet and a vanity sink, plus a small laundry nook with shelving, a washer/dryer, and a pull-out cart for clothes storage.
    — Adam Williams July 22, New Atlas, 22 July 2026
  • The boom is lifting the value of farmland, driving up the cost of construction employment, and flushing huge sums to water and electrical utilities.
    — Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026
Definition of flushing
Verb
  • There’s a chance, experts noted, that this year’s El Niño could bring more fall rain, damping the Santa Ana winds’s ability to fuel fast-moving fires.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026
  • The resulting cavities are filled with dedicated acoustic damping material to control unwanted internal reflections.
    — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of damping
Verb
  • Her work for a mobile car-washing service dwindles during the rainy season; the family only can afford one full meal a day, Torres said.
    — Dee-Ann Durbin, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026
  • Her daughter, who works for a mobile car-washing service, is the family's main provider.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
Definition of washing
Verb
  • That increase was aimed at dampening the impact on consumer prices from higher oil prices due to the US-Iran war and subsequent interruption of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
  • The lifestyle guru, Reese Witherspoon, Katie Holmes, and Hailey Bieber have all been leaning into the breezy button-down shirt trend, which makes for such a chic swap for basic, look-dampening tees.
    — Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 20 July 2026
Definition of dampening

Browse Nearby Words

moistened
moistening
moistens
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Cite this Entry

“Moistening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moistening. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on moistening

Nglish: Translation of moistening for Spanish Speakers

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