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

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

The discovery sharpens that broad history by anchoring a smallpox strain in northern Chile.

— Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 30 July 2026
The Guardian Built From The Same Cloth The institutions that protect our money are nevertheless far from defenseless, since the very capacity for recognizing patterns that empowers the attacker also sharpens the eyes of the watchman.

— Dennis-Kenji Kipker, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of sharpens

Noun

Mercifully, Candace nips that potential Harold and Maude situation in the bud, leaving Steenburgen with her dignity intact.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026
The market is doing the Fed’s job Kevin Warsh’s argument for an ultimately lower Fed funds rate may rely on the notion that financial conditions are likely to tighten further on the long end of the yield curve—far outweighing any nips to the base rate the central bank can make.

— Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 27 May 2026

Definition of nips

Noun

The interior, meanwhile, tips a hat to Hermès, with pops of the French fashion house’s famous orange playing against an otherwise very subtle palette.

— Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 3 Aug. 2026
Still, Owens received one of the biggest pops of the night, and will be treated as a babyface in a feud with fellow babyface CM Punk.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of pops

Noun

Mechanically, the Deadwood is closely related to the Heritage Classic but without the saddlebags, passenger seat, passenger pegs and touring emphasis.

— Josh Max, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
The long saddle, rear foot pegs and 350-pound payload capacity also make the Ranger suitable for riders who want to share parts of the journey.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 July 2026

Definition of pegs

Noun

That game was played on the training pitches next to the Estadio Algarve, where another 11 players got a full game under their belts a few hours later.

— Paul Taylor, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Absolutely’s groundedness can, in part, be credited to the journey of creating her second studio album, Paracosm, a dark-leaning, 13-track record that features self-examining lyrics and dynamic vocals, ranging from airy whispers to soaring belts.

— Christina Perrier, InStyle, 30 July 2026

Definition of belts

Noun

If your garden has been beset by destructive crawling insects like ants, beetles, and slugs, pesticides often seem like the clear solution.

— Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 1 Aug. 2026
Baking soda can help prevent powdery mildew, kill weeds, repel slugs, and clean produce, but must be used sparingly.

— Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 July 2026