WET Synonyms: 350 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'wet' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of wet are damp , dank , humid , and moist . While all these words mean "covered or more or less soaked with liquid," wet usually implies saturation but may suggest a covering of a surface with water or something (such as paint) not yet dry. // slipped on the wet pavement

Q: When is it sensible to use 'damp' instead of 'wet'?

The meanings of damp and wet largely overlap; however, damp implies a slight or moderate absorption and often connotes an unpleasant degree of moisture. // clothes will mildew if stored in a damp place

Q: When can 'dank' be used instead of 'wet'?

While the synonyms dank and wet are close in meaning, dank implies a more distinctly disagreeable or unwholesome dampness. // a prisoner in a cold, dank cell

Q: Where would 'humid' be a reasonable alternative to 'wet'?

In some situations, the words humid and wet are roughly equivalent. However, humid applies to the presence of much water vapor in the air. // a hot, humid climate

Q: In what contexts can 'moist' take the place of 'wet'?

The words moist and wet are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, moist applies to what is slightly damp or not felt as dry. // treat the injury with moist heat

wet 1 of 3

adjective

ˈwet

Definition of wet next

as in dripping

containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water I left the car windows open while it rained, and the seats got all wet

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as in rainy

marked by or abounding with rain a wet and dreary day

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as in drunk

being under the influence of alcohol designated a driver so the others could get wet and make it home safely at the end of the night

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as in sticky

appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way things get more than a little wet during the opera's big death scene

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as in weak

British lacking strength of will or character employees of the company despised their boss as a wet and ineffectual bloke

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wet

2 of 3

noun

as in rain

a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity winced as he walked out into the wet without any protection

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wet

3 of 3

verb

as in to wash

to make wet you need to wet your hair thoroughly first

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word wet distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of wet are damp, dank, humid, and moist. While all these words mean "covered or more or less soaked with liquid," wet usually implies saturation but may suggest a covering of a surface with water or something (such as paint) not yet dry.

slipped on the wet pavement

When is it sensible to use damp instead of wet?

The meanings of damp and wet largely overlap; however, damp implies a slight or moderate absorption and often connotes an unpleasant degree of moisture.

clothes will mildew if stored in a damp place

When can dank be used instead of wet?

While the synonyms dank and wet are close in meaning, dank implies a more distinctly disagreeable or unwholesome dampness.

a prisoner in a cold, dank cell

Where would humid be a reasonable alternative to wet?

In some situations, the words humid and wet are roughly equivalent. However, humid applies to the presence of much water vapor in the air.

a hot, humid climate

In what contexts can moist take the place of wet?

The words moist and wet are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, moist applies to what is slightly damp or not felt as dry.

treat the injury with moist heat

Examples 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 wet

Adjective

Southern California’s status quo is extreme swings between dry and wet, the UCLA researchers noted, but the lack of rainfall since May 2024 was exceptional. —

Angela Fritz, CNN, 14 Jan. 2025 Is there any reason to think that those extremely wet seasons were connected to climate change? —

Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025

Noun

There’s no difference in cost between a wet and a dry haircut. —

Megan Decker, refinery29.com, 11 July 2024 The Orioles wouldn’t smack another extra-base hit and get the fans in Section 86 wet until the seventh inning — after Rubenstein handed the reigns back to Mr. Splash on his bobblehead night — when Henderson doubled home Jorge Mateo. —

Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 11 May 2024

Verb

To use it, wet the stain, apply Kiss Off, blot the stain with a rag or paper towel, and then rinse with water, repeating as needed until the stain is gone. —

Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2024 How to use: After wetting your face, apply cleanser directly to the tool and turn it on to activate the sonic pulsations. —

Jenny Berg, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wet

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wet

Adjective

Such a boom and bust cycle means a lot of lush greenery that grows in the rainy times, and a lot of dead leaves, trees and other tinder that gets left behind when things dry.

— Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 10 Jan. 2025
While Northern California and the Bay Area has seen a relatively rainy winter season, downtown Los Angeles saw just 3% of its normal rainfall since Oct. 1.

— Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2025