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

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

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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

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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

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5
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

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
  1. rainy
  2. drunk
  3. sticky
  4. weak
  5. rain
  6. wash
  7. saturated
  8. drunken
Adjective
  • Pollination season was windy, cold and rainy — but supply chain problems began to improve and inventory came down.
    — Annika Merrilees, Sacbee.com, 7 June 2025
  • Storms continue next week After a warm and rainy weekend, North Texans can expect continued storm chances next week.
    — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 June 2025
Definition of rainy
Adjective
  • The injured man told them his wife had fired around 10 shots at him while drunk, Mansfield police said in a news release Friday.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 May 2025
  • There was a stronger dislike of issues such as getting drunk on a flight or letting children play in the aisle, with 82 and 86 percent disapproval ratings respectively.
    — Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025
Definition of drunk
Adjective
  • Neanderthals made and used wooden spears, cared for their fellow community members, made sticky tar and other adhesives, and butchered massive elephants, among other feats.
    — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 June 2025
  • The unique gel texture sets into a lightweight veil that feels comfortable and stays put, so there’s no pillow staining or sticky residue.
    — Marie Lodi, Allure, 2 June 2025
Definition of sticky
Adjective
  • These weaker strains of the disease eventually sputtered out and went extinct.
    — Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 3 June 2025
  • Market Pulse Brooklyn’s Pulse index, a ratio of demand to supply, is down 2.8 points year-over-year, its weakest reading in five years, and sits at the bottom of the neutral range.
    — John Walkup, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Definition of weak
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
Definition of rain
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
Definition of wash
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
Definition of saturated
Adjective
  • The show’s focus puller also does the Lord’s work in the last shot of the beat, just after Deborah’s face turns and looks toward the camera, flashing red for one desperate second before going fuzzy and indistinct, like a drunken exhale.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 3 June 2025
  • The officer, Robert Phillips, was accused of intentionally causing the death of Jesse Fischer, whom Phillips suspected of drunken driving, in October 2021.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 May 2025
Definition of drunken

Phrases Containing wet

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westerly
wet
wet behind the ears
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Cite this Entry

“Wet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wet. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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