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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

whet

2 of 2

noun

as in load

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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
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 One section tracks the influence of the Alhambra complex, in Granada, where artists trekked to whet their appetites for the exotic. — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 13 July 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
  • In some cases, data centers can operate as flexible loads, adjusting their electricity use to help stabilize the grid.
    — April Roach, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
  • At the same time, reducing the amount of energy entering the system eases the load on mitochondria and reduces oxidative stress.
    — Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 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
  • His affect matches his typical attire on the trail—a Red Sox cap, a fleece vest, his cell phone on a belt clip.
    — Julia Terruso, Time, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The actor wore a long black leather coat over a simple black tank, paired with straight-leg blue jeans cinched with a leather belt.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of belt
Noun
  • 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
  • Schedules shift, events intervene; the peg—the occasion to publish—gets pushed out.
    — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 15 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
  • 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
  • For an eclipse chaser who values that, scenery over duration, or relative quiet, this geographical knife-edge could be appealing.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 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 27 Oct. 2026.

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