wet 1 of 3

1
2
as in rainy
marked by or abounding with rain a wet and dreary day

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
5

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wet

3 of 3

verb

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

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 wet
Adjective
Reduce Moisture Adding large quantities of wet kitchen scraps is one reason compost gets soggy. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 May 2025 The upper level holds a primary suite with an ocean-view Juliet balcony, plus a separate sitting room, a walk-in closet, and a luxe bath boasting dual vanities and a wet room spotlighted by an ebony soaking tub. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 14 May 2025
Noun
In one photo, Lovato beams at Jutes — who is visible in a mirror reflection holding the camera — while cradling the tiny canine, dripping wet after a bath, in a towel in their arms. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 29 July 2024 There’s no difference in cost between a wet and a dry haircut. Megan Decker, refinery29.com, 11 July 2024
Verb
While last week’s celebrity beauty trends couldn’t be pinned down, this week, one thing couldn’t be stated more: wet your hair. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 14 Apr. 2025 Improve Wetting Properties Surfactants also help a liquid disperse and wet a surface. Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 4 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wet
Adjective
  • Inland flooding People in low-lying areas are familiar with how bad the streets get with Florida’s typical summer rainy season.
    Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025
  • Trump and Musk cuts kneecapped forecasters Southern California already faced massive wildfires in January — normally the rainy season.
    Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • Wah’s grandfather told officers that Wah had drunk alcohol earlier that morning at the apartment.
    Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 16 May 2025
  • Fairplay not only pulling off the dead grandma lie but also getting drunk at Tribal Council.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • The reviews and social conversation were becoming apparent that this had inserted itself into the culture in a really sticky way.
    Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2025
  • On my skin, the product feels a bit greasy and sticky, but again, much less so than DEET.
    Kristin Canning, Wired News, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • And, in the long run, economists say that will translate to a weaker economy and a lower standard of living.
    Matt Egan, CNN Money, 22 May 2025
  • Thanks to a weak front sliding across Central Florida, Thursday will be a bit cooler than prior days.
    Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • Temperatures hover in the high 80s to low 90s, with rain chances at 60% across the entire region.
    Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 May 2025
  • Amid a chilly rain at Muirfield Village on Friday, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler began his round with a solid birdie look from 23 feet away on the par-4 1st.
    Jack Milko, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • The linen cotton blend isn’t see-through and is safe to machine wash on a gentle cycle and even tumble dry on low afterward.
    Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 27 May 2025
  • The brand recommends washing the mat in cold water on the gentle cycle, and tumble drying it on a low speed or laying it flat to air dry.
    Toni Sutton, People.com, 25 May 2025
Adjective
  • There’s something so saturated and bright about it.
    Lauren Coates, Variety, 24 May 2025
  • Gray, beige, white and black have become the dominant language of marketing and design, replacing the warm-toned and saturated reds, greens, and blues of decades past.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • Some were inflicted on drunken patients who slipped on the ice.
    Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2025
  • Prosecutors say the 45-year-old Massachusetts woman struck O’Keefe with her car in a fit of drunken rage and left him to die outside the home of another Boston cop during a massive snowstorm in January 2022.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 22 May 2025

Cite this Entry

“Wet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wet. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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