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

Blind, which follows a writer whose loss of sight sharpens her creative imagination, premiered in Sundance and Berlin.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
But seeing how the Count traveled the same journey from the Borgo Pass to Exeter by sea sharpens the contrast between these characters, and hints at the undead man’s indomitability.

— Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 11 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 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

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