WHETS Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

whets 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of whet

as in sharpens

to make sharp or sharper whetted the knife with the grindstone

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

whets

2 of 2

noun

plural of whet

as in nips

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

nonintoxicants

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 whets

Verb

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 Some of the Summertime launch‘s most delicious harvests have already sold out, so don’t think too long or too hard about it before snagging everything that catches your eye… and whets your appetite. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 4 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whets

Verb

Experience in commercial roles often sharpens a leader’s focus on value proposition—truly understanding what differentiates an offering and why a customer would choose it.

— Andy Watts, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Blind, which follows a writer whose loss of sight sharpens her creative imagination, premiered in Sundance and Berlin.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of sharpens

Noun

Not even regular nips from a hidden bottle of whiskey in the garage can ease Greg’s self-loathing.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2026
As gasoline prices soar and inflation nips at vacation budgets, many travelers may have rethought the prospect of the Great American Road Trip.

— Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of nips

Noun

The team must improve the fabrication process, scale up the laser power, and determine whether the ceramic waveguides can maintain their optical performance under much higher loads.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026
The rocket planes tested reaction-control systems for maneuvering where the air was too thin for normal aerodynamic controls, while gathering data on heating, stability, structural loads, human performance and piloting techniques during reentry.

— Josh Dinner, Space.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of loads

Noun

The bass player plucked each of his instrument’s four strings, one at a time, while turning the corresponding tuning pegs.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026
The Zaporizhyan ecclesiastical design belonged to the Middle Dnieper architectural school and was built with wooden pegs instead of nails, using oak from a fortress.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of pegs

Noun

Ricochet says the current Trios Champions stole the belts from them and demands a rematch before telling Strickland to leave the arena.

— Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Many of those joining the Knights for the first time had previous playing time under their belts, with 14 transfers being upperclassmen.

— Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026