wet 1 of 3

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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

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
When mixture is a good consistency, neither too wet nor too dry, stir in whipping cream, salt and pepper. Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 26 Jan. 2026 Bring the person into a warm area, remove any wet clothes, wrap them in anything warm like blankets and call 9-1-1. Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 26 Jan. 2026
Noun
The red leash that his hundred-and-ten-pound Bouvier had worn was of course too large for a rescue of thirty-three pounds soaking wet. CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025 Try the ribeye, wet-aged in its own enzymatic juices, which allows for a tender steak. Mackensy Lunsford, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Dec. 2025
Verb
For suede boots, wet the entire surface with the vinegar and water solution to help keep the color even. Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 8 Jan. 2026 Van Assche got his toes wet post-graduation by working as Hedi Slimane’s assistant at Yves Saint Laurent. Sarah Jones, Footwear News, 7 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wet
Adjective
  • Set the wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet to catch the dripping fat.
    Kate Williams, AJC.com, 1 Feb. 2026
  • The black char is simply carbon soot, and the lack of dripping is due to the unique porous structure of the snowball.
    Ahmad Bajjey, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Inter Miami picked up its first victory of the 2026 preseason on a rainy Saturday evening at the Estadio Atanasio Girardot, coming from behind to pick up a 2-1 triumph over Colombian powerhouse Atletico Nacional.
    GianFranco Panizo, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
  • Container culture may be best as the plants can be moved to better growing conditions during the hot rainy season.
    Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • These conversations might surprise those who think of unhoused men and women as not too bright, drunk or somehow lesser.
    Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
  • And in Utah, judges are now allowed to ban you from buying alcohol if you get caught driving while extremely drunk.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Add up to 1/4 cup remaining flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed, if dough is too sticky.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Over the last few years, a mix of economic hurdles, like rapidly rising prices caused by sticky inflation, has helped to drive borrowers' reliance on credit cards upward and high average credit card rates have further propelled cardholders' balances upward.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Trump has directed his ire toward the Department of Labor agency ever since former Commissioner Erika McEntarfer authorized the release of a weak jobs report last summer.
    David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Procedures harden, decision paths lengthen, and people wait for permission rather than acting on weak signals from the environment.
    Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Light Layers The fickle nature of spring means that a beautiful sunny day can turn cold, windy, and spitting with rain at the drop of a hat.
    Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The primary bedroom features a walk-in closet and a marble bath with a dual vanity, an oversized shower with a rain head, and a freestanding soaking tub.
    Saleema Syed, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Rural voters on the Eastern Shore don’t want their voices drowned out by Democrats forced into their district from the suburbs of Central Maryland.
    Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 1 Feb. 2026
  • Whitney died suddenly in February 2012, having accidentally drowned in a hotel room a day before the Grammy Awards.
    Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Leading up its abrupt closure, The Brewer's Art owed nearly $150,000, court records show — a crippling mountain of debt for what local beer-makers say is a saturated, competitive market.
    Jane Godiner, Baltimore Sun, 4 Feb. 2026
  • As a boutique focused on scalable, distinctive tentpole drama, pairing top-tier talent with powerful and unique IP provides the crucial edge to cut through the noise of a saturated market, offering partners and viewers the reassurance of high-end quality.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Wet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wet. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

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