wet 1 of 3

adjective

ˈwet How to pronounce wet (audio)
Definition of wetnext
1
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rainy
marked by or abounding with rain a wet and dreary day

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in weak
British lacking strength of will or character employees of the company despised their boss as a wet and ineffectual bloke

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

as in to wash
to make wet you need to wet your hair thoroughly first

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
The cordless wet/dry vacuum has a 40-minute runtime and a self-cleaning system to remove yucky stuff from the wet rollers. —Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 18 Apr. 2025 After all, laundry hampers spend most of their time holding dirty, damp garments, like sweaty workout gear or wet towels, that have been stashed at the bottom for days. —Katelyn Squiers, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 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
To start, wet your hands with water, then apply enough soap to cover your hands and rub them against each other. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025 Symptoms vary though as there are two types of AMD: dry AMD and wet AMD. —Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wet
  1. rainy
  2. drunk
  3. sticky
  4. weak
  5. rain
  6. wash
  7. saturated
  8. drunken
Adjective
  • The agency recalled that between 2022 and 2024, around 60% of annual admissions for severe acute malnutrition occurred during the rainy season, meaning that up to 462,000 children could be affected this year if the trend holds.
    — Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Areas affected by the Harmattan experience significant dryness, unlike the rainy season when the monsoon wind (from the south) prevails.
    — Christophe Lavaysse, JSTOR Daily, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of rainy
Adjective
  • Rivera had been jailed at Santa Rita since May 2022, after California Highway Patrol officers arrested him on suspicion of murder for allegedly driving drunk and causing a crash that killed a woman.
    — Stephanie Lam, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2025
  • How do police tell if drivers are drunk? Law enforcement agencies use a series of physical and mental exercises to determine whether drivers could be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
    — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Definition of drunk
Adjective
  • The telltale signs range from sticky, clammy skin to having moisture on your windows and walls.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
  • In an interview with Fox Business on Wednesday, Dimon said rising interest rates, sticky inflation, and widening credit spreads are setting the stage for a wave of financial strain among U.S. companies.
    — Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of sticky
Adjective
  • Then, McIlroy hit a weak drive to the right and was blocked by pines.
    — Time, Time, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Carbonaceous chondrites tend to be weaker and more crumbly than other meteorites, so these objects just don’t stand as much of a chance.
    — Patrick M. Shober, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of weak
Noun
  • The storms were fueled by a stationary atmospheric river last week that spawned dozens of tornadoes and overwhelmed communities with up to 16 inches of rain in four days – a 100-to-1,000-year rainfall event, meteorologists said.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025
  • There is a slight chance of rain — 15-20% — as the isolated showers move through the region.
    — Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of rain
Verb
  • Reynolds’ colleagues found 97% of people had never washed them, and many were contaminated by bacteria, including E. coli, from foods like raw meats and produce.
    — Matt Fuchs, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Geometric furniture and decorative elements are washed in rich colors and lush textures.
    — Blue Carreon, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Definition of wash
Adjective
  • In today’s saturated media landscape, the most compelling campaigns aren’t built on data points alone but on stories that humanize a brand, evoke emotion and inspire action.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • In today’s saturated market, simply having a great story isn’t enough.
    — Chris Gallagher, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of saturated
Adjective
  • Read is accused of striking O'Keefe with her Lexus SUV during a drunken argument and then leaving the scene, where he was found dead with signs of severe head trauma and hypothermia the next morning.
    — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • The Senator enlists the help of Davis to provoke Staten at Gracie’s, which leads to a drunken brawl.
    — Francesca Gariano, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of drunken

Phrases Containing wet

Browse Nearby Words

westerly
wet
wet behind the ears
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wet. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on wet

Nglish: Translation of wet for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

'Blue Moon,' 'Wolf Moon,' and Other Moons to Look for Throughout the Year

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All