wet 1 of 3

adjective

ˈwet How to pronounce wet (audio)
Definition of wetnext
1
as in dripping
containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water I left the car windows open while it rained, and the seats got all wet

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2
as in rainy
marked by or abounding with rain a wet and dreary day

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3
as in drunk
being under the influence of alcohol designated a driver so the others could get wet and make it home safely at the end of the night

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4
as in sticky
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way things get more than a little wet during the opera's big death scene

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5
as in weak
British lacking strength of will or character employees of the company despised their boss as a wet and ineffectual bloke

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wet

2 of 3

noun

as in rain
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity winced as he walked out into the wet without any protection

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wet

3 of 3

verb

as in to wash
to make wet you need to wet your hair thoroughly first

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word wet distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of wet are damp, dank, humid, and moist. While all these words mean "covered or more or less soaked with liquid," 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

When is it sensible to use damp instead of wet?

The meanings of damp and wet largely overlap; however, 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 can dank be used instead of wet?

While the synonyms dank and wet are close in meaning, dank implies a more distinctly disagreeable or unwholesome dampness.

a prisoner in a cold, dank cell

Where would humid be a reasonable alternative to wet?

In some situations, the words humid and wet are roughly equivalent. However, humid applies to the presence of much water vapor in the air.

a hot, humid climate

In what contexts can moist take the place of wet?

The words moist and wet are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, moist applies to what is slightly damp or not felt as dry.

treat the injury with moist heat

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 wet
Adjective
Once the cleaning process is complete, wipe the shoes with a clean, wet rag to eliminate any remaining dirt, debris, or cleaning solution. —Maryal Miller Carter, USA Today, 7 June 2025 More fossils will be needed to know if the prehistoric waterwheels grew snap traps to enclose small aquatic invertebrates, like its modern counterparts, but the lineage was already present during a time when the world was warmer and wetter, and mammals were just beginning to get big. —Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 June 2025
Noun
The j series adds a camera for obstacle avoidance, and higher-end models in that line like the Combo j9+ ($1,199.99) have a retractable mop to clean hardwood floors and carpeting in a single run without getting the latter wet. —PCMAG, 8 Aug. 2024 In one photo, Lovato beams at Jutes — who is visible in a mirror reflection holding the camera — while cradling the tiny canine, dripping wet after a bath, in a towel in their arms. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 29 July 2024
Verb
While last week’s celebrity beauty trends couldn’t be pinned down, this week, one thing couldn’t be stated more: wet your hair. —India Espy-Jones, Essence, 14 Apr. 2025 Improve Wetting Properties Surfactants also help a liquid disperse and wet a surface. —Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 4 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wet
  1. rainy
  2. drunk
  3. sticky
  4. weak
  5. rain
  6. wash
  7. saturated
  8. drunken
Adjective
  • Pollination season was windy, cold and rainy — but supply chain problems began to improve and inventory came down.
    — Annika Merrilees, Sacbee.com, 7 June 2025
  • Storms continue next week After a warm and rainy weekend, North Texans can expect continued storm chances next week.
    — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 June 2025
Definition of rainy
Adjective
  • The injured man told them his wife had fired around 10 shots at him while drunk, Mansfield police said in a news release Friday.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 May 2025
  • There was a stronger dislike of issues such as getting drunk on a flight or letting children play in the aisle, with 82 and 86 percent disapproval ratings respectively.
    — Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025
Definition of drunk
Adjective
  • The unique gel texture sets into a lightweight veil that feels comfortable and stays put, so there’s no pillow staining or sticky residue.
    — Marie Lodi, Allure, 2 June 2025
  • Neanderthals made and used wooden spears, cared for their fellow community members, made sticky tar and other adhesives, and butchered massive elephants, among other feats.
    — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 June 2025
Definition of sticky
Adjective
  • Global Blue's weak February European shopper data released on March 5 did indeed work as a catalyst.
    — Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 3 June 2025
  • Market Pulse Brooklyn’s Pulse index, a ratio of demand to supply, is down 2.8 points year-over-year, its weakest reading in five years, and sits at the bottom of the neutral range.
    — John Walkup, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Definition of weak
Noun
  • In Baltimore, the Red Sox held a 3-2 lead over the last-place Orioles when an 86-minute rain delay interrupted the proceedings during the seventh-inning stretch.
    — Tim Britton, New York Times, 30 May 2025
  • In fact, the rain actually bought Hardin some time after his escape, according to Champion.
    — Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 30 May 2025
Definition of rain
Verb
  • Consumers should also wash and disinfect any surfaces that came in contact with the eggs.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 7 June 2025
  • The hilltop compound is perhaps most famous for its car museum, a nearly 24,000-square-foot showstopper built to house Lyon’s epic personal collection, with room for 70 vehicles (none included with the sale, unfortunately), as well as an auto shop and wash and gas stations.
    — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 6 June 2025
Definition of wash
Adjective
  • Sacks spends her alone time in the spa-like bathroom, which Miller swathed in a saturated cobalt from Backdrop.
    — Morgan Goldberg, Architectural Digest, 5 June 2025
  • Rather than simply pushing more vehicles into saturated markets, Munoz wants to create new value sources through localization, expansion into new markets, development of mobility services, and diversification into adjacent sectors.
    — Sarwant Singh, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Definition of saturated
Adjective
  • The show’s focus puller also does the Lord’s work in the last shot of the beat, just after Deborah’s face turns and looks toward the camera, flashing red for one desperate second before going fuzzy and indistinct, like a drunken exhale.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 3 June 2025
  • The officer, Robert Phillips, was accused of intentionally causing the death of Jesse Fischer, whom Phillips suspected of drunken driving, in October 2021.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 May 2025
Definition of drunken

Phrases Containing wet

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westerly
wet
wet behind the ears
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Cite this Entry

“Wet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wet. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

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