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
Warm, wet soil encourages fungi that attack the plants’ roots. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026 In fairness, the El Niño drying Asia has historically brought wetter seasons to Argentina and southern Brazil, so much of the market's remaining relief now depends on rain falling on schedule over the Pampas. Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Noun
Water the soil thoroughly, making sure not to get the cutting wet. Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 15 June 2026 Using the wrong cleaning product or getting a touchscreen wet can mean the end of your phone, tablet, or laptop. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 May 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
  • Gently squeeze out any excess water so the hair is damp rather than dripping.
    Anya Meyerowitz, Glamour, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Blood was still dripping from my head and both elbows, and my shirt was soaked in blood, which was now seeping into my pants.
    Todd Orr, Outdoor Life, 30 July 2026
Adjective
  • After years on a downward slope, surplus funds are paying down a pension debt accumulated over seven decades, the state’s rainy-day fund is full, state projects are receiving support, and the state’s credit was upgraded several times since 2020.
    Elona Vaisnys, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Most of the Tri-State Area, including New York City, is under a heat advisory Thursday and Friday, with rainy weather bringing the risk of flash flooding.
    Justin Lewis, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Ormund, who has spent the entirety of the battle looking for Ulf, finally finds the dragonseed passed out in the latrine after a morning spent in Lord Footly’s kitchen getting drunk on the Footly stores of ale.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • After being publicly humiliated by Daemon Targaryen and lured to switch sides (with his dragon) to the Greens by Ormund Hightower, party animal Ulf is still drunk and MIA when the battle starts.
    Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Use apple cider vinegar traps or sticky traps to catch adult gnats, and inspect plants before bringing them indoors.
    Leah Chester-Davis, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Rising gas prices, sticky inflation and rising unemployment in the Black community threaten many small businesses that serve Black consumers.
    Frank Holland, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Similar to Spokane, the windiest periods will be during the daytime from Friday through Sunday, with weaker winds each night.
    Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The next step came in 2009, when mathematicians Jordan Ellenberg, Akshay Venkatesh and Craig Westerland posted a preprint paper that claimed to prove a weaker version of the conjecture for every prime.
    Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 5 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • One day during a big rain, a creature uses water powers to open the door to the house.
    William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
  • While the rain is expected to mostly subside by Saturday, temperatures will hover near the 90s through Sunday and into next week.
    Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • But the chorus of the sisterhood threatened to drown out Vicki’s comments about the serial Housewives dater.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Just what Lee was thinking was drowned out by a TV mounted in the corner, blaring the news of the day, but the gist was clear.
    Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Rather than chase influencers, whose rates have climbed into four and five figures per post amid a saturated market, Poppy & Pout is now investing in community events at retailers like Pigment in San Diego.
    Esha Chhabra, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • This painstakingly restored 4K version looks and sounds gorgeous; cinematographer Dante Spinotti’s work glows with saturated vibrancy, and Michel Rubini and the Reds’ score vibrates on a spooky synth frequency.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 July 2026

Cite this Entry

“Wet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wet. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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