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
There were firearms in the house and plastic garbage bags, bleach, Lysol, and wet tools in a trailer outside. Nikki Battiste, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026 Complement your look with the Hydrosport All Weather Sling, a water-resistant sling that keeps things safe and secure in wet conditions. ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Noun
The biggest advantage, however, may be that the feedstock goes in wet, removing the drying stage could cut both energy use and cost. New Atlas, 1 July 2026 The fillets should be a little damp, but not soaking wet. Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 18 June 2026
Verb
Reduce irrigation to only once or twice a week to wet the soil to help control this problem. Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026 Then add a second layer of sand, sweep it into place, and wet it down. Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for wet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wet
Adjective
  • Flavorizer bars sit between the grates and fuel source and catch dripping fat.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Gently squeeze out any excess water so the hair is damp rather than dripping.
    Anya Meyerowitz, Glamour, 2 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • During the summer rainy season plants may be affected by fungal leaf spots and mildew.
    Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Before your next rainy-day shopping trip, pay extra attention at store entrances and mall walkways.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Habib, who joined the department in 2007, was responding to a 911 call at a Bronx catering hall in 2023 when a drunk and disorderly man resisted arrest, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said.
    ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • In 2014, the Glaswegian photographer Dougie Wallace released a collection of photographs of incredibly drunk stag-do and hen-do parties in Blackpool.
    George Francis Lee, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • If the dough is too sticky, add flour 1 tablespoon at a time.
    ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Apartments with sticky floors and landlords absentee enough not to notice, or care, if a living room became a mosh pit.
    Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The Commerce Department released a report Friday showing weak retail sales in July.
    CBS News, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Following his coach and uncle Toni’s advice, Nadal finally beat Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2008, breaking Federer’s Open-Era-record five-year winning streak on grass, by playing high balls to Federer’s back hand, his weak point.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Instead, the rain dissipated around noon, the temperature dropped, and a slight breeze provided a slight reprieve to the corn-sweat humidity that engulfs this region every August.
    Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • That is important, as the show includes simulated rain showers with real water pouring down on the stage from above.
    Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • At least 115 people were crushed to death or drowned in the river below.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the whirlpools of history spin, and ordinary people, good and bad alike, drown in them.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats and eating more soluble fiber can help lower cholesterol.
    Brandi Jones, Verywell Health, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Bologna or salami, for example, can contain more saturated fat.
    Anna Dilger, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2026

Cite this Entry

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

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