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 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
The understanding with Mbappe, always lightning quick to make his move, only sharpens the most dangerous connection at the World Cup.

— Thom Harris, New York Times, 4 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

Why the farmer’s walk works Walking with heavy loads recruits nearly every major muscle group, with particular activation in the core and lower body.

— Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
Flaxseeds From lowering cholesterol to lowering the risk of certain diseases, flaxseeds come with loads of health benefits.

— Audrey Noble, Vogue, 24 July 2026

Definition of loads

Noun

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
Larger pests, like slugs, are best controlled with hand-picking or by companion planting petunias with plants that naturally deter pests.

— Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 14 July 2026