wet 1 of 2

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

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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
Hydroplaning is when a vehicle starts uncontrollably sliding on wet roads. Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 8 June 2026 Stay away from water, wet items, and metal objects. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 June 2026
Verb
After cleansing and disinfecting, wet your sponge, then spread a layer of seeds across the top and leave it under a clear bowl or cover. Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 27 May 2026 This one hails from Memphis and excludes a sauce altogether — although feel free to wet your ribs with whatever sauce tickles your fancy. John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for wet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wet
Adjective
  • Lines that seem artlessly off-the-cuff on first pass accrue an unexpected weight and purpose the fourth time through; the countrified guitar lick that sounds so chipper at the start of a song is dripping with melancholy by the end.
    Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 4 June 2026
  • Travis Jones is a great example of a prospect who was dripping with athletic traits, but also came with questions about his technique and ability to win against high-level talent.
    Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • Unmoored from the family unit, and inflated by success and ambition, she is left to roam the rainy hills like a beast that has exiled itself from conventional society.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
  • Prosecutors argued that the stabbing was an unjustified attack that stemmed from a disagreement over Anthony's presence under a Memorial High School team tent during the rainy track meet, the Associated Press reported.
    Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 9 June 2026
Adjective
  • The book is structured as a quest to figure out why a class of aimless young men in late-Thatcherist Blighty get their kicks out of getting paralytically drunk and bashing one another half to death every weekend.
    Leander Schaerlaeckens June 8, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
  • Always elegantly attired, always thirsty, never drunk.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026
Adjective
  • Certain traps, such as the sticky paper ones, eventually run out of space.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 9 June 2026
  • The hot, humid, and sticky weather is expected to continue into Wednesday.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 9 June 2026
Adjective
  • As the story goes, attendance was weak, the weather was bad, and the tournament experience was just lacking.
    James Burky, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
  • As many as 40 states combine one-party control with institutional barriers weak enough to fall to political pressure.
    Bruce Sibley, Time, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • Even though there may be slightly less hurricane activity this year, high winds and rain can still interrupt the power supply stationary cell towers rely on.
    Ayana Archie, NPR, 4 June 2026
  • Now, Goicochea warned, the current garbage collection situation, combined with rising temperatures and impending rains, could worsen the situation.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 June 2026
Verb
  • This is the third report of a water rescue operation along the Front Range this week in which a child fell into the water or was swept away and drowned.
    Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 7 June 2026
  • Three-year-old Riley Fox was found drowned and half-naked in a Wilmington creek.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
Adjective
  • Both butter and margarine have a combination of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids.
    Rosemary Trout, The Conversation, 10 June 2026
  • Their findings suggested that a diet which limits saturated fat and emphasizes foods such as vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, fish, berries, lean proteins, and olive oil was associated with slower rates of cognitive decline.
    Kathleen Felton, Time, 9 June 2026

Cite this Entry

“Wet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wet. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.

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