whetted; whetting
1
: to sharpen by rubbing on or with something (such as a stone)
whet a knife
whetter
noun
1
2
: something that sharpens or makes keen:
a
: goad, incitement
b
: appetizer
also
: a drink of liquor
Examples of whet in a Sentence
Verb
We had some wine to whet our appetites.
The ads are trying to whet booksellers' interest.
Recent Examples on the Web
Shalom Lipner, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024
If Russia breaks Ukraine’s resistance, this would only whet Putin’s imperial appetite — and Russia’s next targets might be NATO countries such as Poland or the Baltic states, Bublikov predicted.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 24 Nov. 2024
Zoë Dare Hall, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Conway continued to press him, using a sports analogy to whet Trump’s competitive appetite.
—Emily Hallas, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for whet 
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Verb
In recent months, additional momentum has come from the tactical successes of the IDF, which have whetted the public’s appetite for more.
—Shalom Lipner, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024
If Russia breaks Ukraine’s resistance, this would only whet Putin’s imperial appetite — and Russia’s next targets might be NATO countries such as Poland or the Baltic states, Bublikov predicted.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 24 Nov. 2024
Noun
If there’s a property to whet buyers’ appetites, this is surely it.
—Zoë Dare Hall, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Conway continued to press him, using a sports analogy to whet Trump’s competitive appetite.
—Emily Hallas, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for whet
Dictionary Entries Near whet
Cite this Entry
“Whet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whet. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.
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