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
This was a simpler and more secure replacement, though the elastic did tend to perish rather quickly in wet or tropical conditions. David Szondy august 30, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026 To do the most thorough job, remove dust, cobwebs, and debris from the glass and window frame using a hand duster or soft brush before applying any wet solution. Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026
Noun
Frequent cleaning by wet-dusting and wet-mopping hard surfaces such as floors and tables with plain water or gentle cleaners can keep indoor air cleaner. Dr. Lauren Zajac, Boston Herald, 19 July 2026 Nokes said the beef that the store carries is wet-aged for a minimum of 21 days, meaning that the meat is sealed in its own juices, leading to the meat enzymes being broken down and softened on their own. Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
Verb
Make sure water penetrates to the deep roots in addition to wetting surface roots. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026 While the salmon-rich Naknek River runs directly past town, floatplanes also ferry fishermen to wet a line in far-flung, glacially fed streams. Bailey Berg, Travel + Leisure, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wet
Adjective
  • Zendaya’s semi-sheer gown was dripping in jewels, with dangling crystals of various sizes offering the dress dynamic movement.
    Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the mountain valleys pour their thread-like streams of white water onto the bare earth surfaced by smaller landslides in recent years, leaving it dripping and fresh.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Unsettled, rainy weather will loom throughout this weekend, bringing a daily risk of street flooding, the National Weather Service in Miami forecast Friday.
    Juan Ortega, Sun Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Looking ahead, our rainy weather pattern is set to return either late Saturday or early Sunday, with rain and flood chances remaining elevated from Sunday through at least Wednesday.
    Ron Smiley, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The two meet cute at a deeply awful Toronto nightclub; Emma is trying to feel young and free, while Raiff’s character, an old soul in a twenty-something body, is taken by the somewhat older woman who is much more fun than his drunk buddies.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2026
  • This is a very large question for such a small and humble (and drunk and comedic) literary advice column.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Raspberry jam oozed from between the layers like sticky blood.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
  • And with inflation sticky, many expect the central bank to issue its first interest rate hike since 2023.
    Matt Richardson, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Ferries are a common method of travel and accidents occur regularly, in part due to weak enforcement of safety standards.
    IMAN SATRIA, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026
  • This time a year ago, a weak La Niña — El Niño’s cool counterpart — was in place, and only a handful of other years have had such a rapid flip to a potent El Niño, including the strongest ever event from 1982 to 1983.
    Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Across New Mexico, an active monsoon pattern was forecast to continue through Saturday, bringing a threat for heavy rain and flash flooding, CBS affiliate KRQE reported.
    CBS News, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The forest also merits a visit after the spring or autumn rains, when local guides lead mushroom hunts.
    Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The film is also Diop’s first narrative film, taking the court case of Fabienne Kabou, a Senegalese French woman who was ultimately convicted of murder for drowning her child, as inspiration.
    Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Nobody wanted to look at it or think about those five children being drowned in Andrea Yates’s bathtub.
    Jaha Nailah Avery, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • But the saturated bottom, 50% carbon, is the consistency of axle grease.
    ABC News, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Today’s media landscape has become far more saturated and polarized, as well as faster paced, in the decades since Grossman was a reporter.
    Nick Holdstock, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Wet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wet. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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