whet 1 of 2

verb

ˈ(h)wet How to pronounce whet (audio)
Definition of whetnext
as in to sharpen
to make sharp or sharper whetted the knife with the grindstone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

whet

2 of 2

noun

as in load

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 whet
Verb
But the talent on display whets the appetite for the multihyphenate’s next projects after this work’s debut in Venice as part of the wider Biennale College. — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026 Super sips To whet guests’ palates, the Tower Bridge Dinner didn’t have to look far to find the perfect pairings. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026 Organizers have shared a partial list of vendors, to whet the public’s appetite. — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026 Like anticipation for an upcoming summer blockbuster movie, the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll whets the appetite for college football fans ahead of the teams returning to the field. — Erick Smith, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for whet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whet
  1. sharpen
  2. load
  3. tot
  4. nip
  5. belt
  6. peg
  7. aperitif
  8. chaser
Verb
  • Anxiety knocks people off autopilot, sharpens attention and sends them looking for new information.
    — Monique Mitchell Turner, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2026
  • If this more potent engine wasn’t enough, the 2027 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 bristles with fresh technology and engineering enhancements to sharpen its driving dynamics.
    — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of sharpen
Noun
  • The distance is worth it for travelers who want a budget-friendly hotel that still has loads of style, as prices tend to be significantly lower than downtown hotels.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026
  • If the rate change takes effect in 2027, Barbosa said the center will have to cut its patient load in half, particularly affecting older patients who rely on care close to home.
    — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of load
Noun
  • The tot looks adorable in the snap in a baby pink onesie and tiny socks.
    — Clare Fisher, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2026
  • From cherry cola ribs and chicken chili tot pie to beer cheese broccoli orzo soup and Nashville hot chicken and pickle dip, check out Spence's recipes below.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of tot
Noun
  • Built separately, the fiber nips were made using traditional hat-making techniques and then woven onto the suit as a final step.
    — Kirbie Johnson, Allure, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Maybe the two can take the nips out on a lovely date to the Wicker 4DX screenings later this month.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of nip
Noun
  • Switching on conveyor belts that extended from the stern of the ship into the water, the crew began to haul in streams of seaweed, dumping it onto the hull, where workers packed it in with a bulldozer.
    — David Shortell Cristopher Rogel Blanquet, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • This influx of accessories like belts and scarves reminds Wong of the ’90s and early aughts magazine ‘tips and tricks’ pages.
    — Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of belt
Noun
  • In fact, this attempt to have it both ways — a horror movie set in the DC universe, and a DC universe movie that hopes to attract the horror-fan crowd — may have knocked things down a peg or three.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2026
  • As for the people who still want to knock rock and roll down a peg and claim the Nobel Prize made a grave error in judgement with their 2016 winner, well, Riley has just one thing to say.
    — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of peg
Noun
  • Bitter foods have been used for generations to kick digestion into gear, whether that meant a bitter aperitif before a meal or a sharp green tossed on the plate first.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Vermouth is a lower-proof aperitif flavored with herbs, roots, spices, citrus and other botanicals, typically landing somewhere between 15% and 22% ABV—considerably gentler than the roughly 40% ABV of many familiar spirits.
    — Devin Parr, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of aperitif
Noun
  • Still, almost every eclipse chaser headed to Luxor will want to tour them before or after the eclipse.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Zachary Rutherford, the marathon’s official charity chaser, ran for Signal 13, a nonprofit that supports the physical, mental and emotional well-being of Baltimore police officers and their families.
    — Vivian Yao, Baltimore Sun, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of chaser

Browse Nearby Words

wherry
whet
whether or no
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Whet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whet. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of candidate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All