wet 1 of 3

Definition of wetnext
1
2
as in rainy
marked by or abounding with rain a wet and dreary day

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
5

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wet

3 of 3

verb

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
Poor drainage can lead to root rot, especially if your lavender is planted in an area with wet or clay-heavy soil. Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Nov. 2025 Do not approach water, wet objects, or metal items. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
Certified instructors continue teaching his wet-on-wet oil painting technique to the masses, and the Smithsonian acquired several of his works for its permanent collection in 2019. Rachel Treisman, NPR, 8 Oct. 2025 On a wet, rainy night in Orlando, the Jayhawks prevailed in a one-score game against the UCF Knights. Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
Increase the resistance on this exercise by wetting the towel first. Aubrey Bailey, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025 Update irrigation The goal of irrigation is to wet plant roots. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wet
Adjective
  • Water was dripping from a soda machine tube at the customer self-service area.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The staff, for one, will don uniforms with a double-breasted peak lapel and dripping in blues and white piping.
    Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The Amazon Unlike Brazil’s major cities, where the action ramps up in summer, the Amazon starts to quiet down in large part because of the arrival of the rainy season, which is at its peak from December to March.
    Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
  • While spring is the most popular climbing season, as weather is favorable on tall peaks, hundreds of foreign climbers come to climb smaller peaks during the autumn, between the rainy monsoon months and winter.
    Manish Paudel, NBC news, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Kelly cited a string of events in which Hegseth allegedly appeared drunk with his staff.
    Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Perry shared in the book that Aniston was the first costar to confront him about his addiction despite him never having been drunk on set.
    Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Next, add the pumpkin and peanut butter and blend until the mixture is sticky.
    Cody Godwin, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
  • At the heart of this first of what could be many such trials is the premise that social media and its algorithms and sticky attraction have harsh consequences of thoughts of suicide, depression, sleep disruption, eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and anxiety.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • New orders contracted for a fourth month and export bookings remained weak, based on the ISM data.
    Reade Pickert Bloomberg, Arkansas Online, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Getting too little of either can lead to weak, brittle bones, and too much can also cause problems (like kidney stones or nausea).
    T'Keyah Bazin, Verywell Health, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • When heavy rain occurs, there is a potential for flooding, particularly in areas that are low-lying or prone to floods.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025
  • For one night, under cold rain and flickering red lights, the noise faded.
    Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • One villager has drowned in flash floods in the eastern province of Catanduanes, officials confirmed to the Associated Press, while another died in Catbalogan city in eastern Samar province after being pinned by debris from a collapsed home.
    Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Even more poignant, however, is the Rosemary's Baby angle, where the innocence of childhood is drowned in blood and the notion that a young person reared in a loving environment should develop into a compassionate adult is perverted into unthinkable horror.
    Alan Bradley, Space.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • This eating plan focuses on foods with a variety of nutrients such as green leafy vegetables, fish and whole grains that are beneficial for cognitive function and don’t include ones with high amounts of trans and saturated fats.
    Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Flow Space, 7 Nov. 2025
  • With traditional entertainment, games, TikTok, GenAI, and more competing for fans’ attention, audiences seem more saturated than ever before.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Wet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wet. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on wet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!