dank

adjective

ˈdaŋk 

: unpleasantly moist or wet

a dank basement

dankly adverb

dankness noun

Synonyms

• damp
• dampish
• moist
• wettish

Choose the Right Synonym for dank

wet, damp, dank, moist, humid 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

damp implies a slight or moderate absorption and often connotes an unpleasant degree of moisture.

clothes will mildew if stored in a damp place

dank implies a more distinctly disagreeable or unwholesome dampness.

a prisoner in a cold, dank cell

moist applies to what is slightly damp or not felt as dry.

treat the injury with moist heat

humid applies to the presence of much water vapor in the air.

a hot, humid climate

Examples of dank in a Sentence

vegetables tended to go bad quickly in the dank cellar

Recent Examples on the Web

There does seem to be something instinctive between these two relative strangers sitting in a photo studio on a dank, autumn afternoon deep in west London. —Olivia Marks, Vogue, 2 Jan. 2025

Large expanses of glass that open onto terraces keep the homes, however, from feeling dark and dank. —Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 10 Dec. 2024

The flavors featured pear juice, pineapple, and dank herbs. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024

Five people could comfortably fit — and there were 43 of us crammed in a dank hole. —Lea Lane, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English danke

First Known Use

1573, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

dank

adjective

ˈdaŋk 

: unpleasantly moist or wet

dankly adverb

dankness noun