wet 1 of 3

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
Heat domes – large areas of high pressure that park over an area for days – prevent wet or windy weather from happening underneath them and instead force active weather to move along their northern periphery. Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 14 May 2025 Maintain a safe distance from water, wet items, and metal objects. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2025
Noun
In one photo, Lovato beams at Jutes — who is visible in a mirror reflection holding the camera — while cradling the tiny canine, dripping wet after a bath, in a towel in their arms. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 29 July 2024 There’s no difference in cost between a wet and a dry haircut. Megan Decker, refinery29.com, 11 July 2024
Verb
Diagnosis Exams typically begin with a thorough medical history because there is a genetic component to wet AMD, and other health factors can raise your risk. Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 7 Apr. 2025 Serve Use a lime wedge to wet the rim and the side of the bottle. Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wet
Adjective
  • Zara came extra prepared for the rainy outdoor appearance, wearing protective stoppers on the heels of her shoes to prevent her from sinking into the wet grass.
    Stephanie Petit, People.com, 14 May 2025
  • On a rainy Easter at his home in the South of France, on the last day of March in 2024, Clooney heard from Katzenberg, who made his ask—a fund-raiser in June.
    Jake Tapper, New Yorker, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • Pino’s attorney, Howard Srebnick, criticized the FWC in a statement Friday, saying the loss of Gazzola’s body camera footage hurts Pino’s possibilities of having a fair trial, given the officer’s testimony that Pino showed signs of being drunk.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 9 May 2025
  • That caller said Floren was drunk, had three guns and threatened to kill him.
    Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2025
Adjective
  • Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and other members of the U.S. central bank are meeting Tuesday and Wednesday, trying to chart a path where the U.S. can avoid both a recession and sticky inflation.
    Jesse Pound, CNBC, 6 May 2025
  • Relevance is a particularly sticky word, one that lacks nuance.
    Eric Crosby, Artforum, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • The report also included a number of ‘weak’ odor sources observed during the study, including odors emanating from the Curaleaf cannabis facility on Britt Road and Goldflower Cannabis facility on Niles Road.
    James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 May 2025
  • Thompson’s brother Maurice, who allegedly drove the chasing Chevrolet Equinox, was granted bail in October — indicating a potentially weak case.
    Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • Visit after a hard rain for the most dramatic cascades.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 18 May 2025
  • That's precisely where most of Titan’s lakes and seas are located — probably replenished by methane and ethane rain.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • Afterward, wash the cleanser off with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.4 Some people with sensitive skin find that cleansing with water in the morning is sufficient, and over-cleansing with products can irritate their skin.
    Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 15 May 2025
  • Brush the top of the pie with the egg yolk wash and sprinkle the surface with the raw cane sugar and remaining cardamom.
    Ellen Gray, Saveur, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Similarly, a compelling brand becomes a key differentiator in saturated markets, where products and services often look alike.
    Raja Walia, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
  • Other experts have encouraged women to eat well and limit foods high in sodium or saturated fats, avoid drinking and smoking, and maintain a regular yoga practice.
    Carmen Rios, Flow Space, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • Prosecutors say Read deliberately hit O’Keefe, 46, outside the home a fellow cop and left him for dead in a drunken rage.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 14 May 2025
  • Bailey had five drunken driving convictions between 1985 and 2015. 40 mph without braking Friends and family of the victims filled the courtroom at Wednesday’s hearing.
    Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 8 May 2025

Cite this Entry

“Wet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wet. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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