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
In Soggy Soil Tomatoes can pick up a lot of fungal and bacterial diseases in wet conditions. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 Apr. 2025 In 2023, the SWP allocations were 100 percent after an abnormally wet winter season benefitted reservoirs and helped remedy much of California's drought. —Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 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
Serve Use a lime wedge to wet the rim and the side of the bottle. —Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2025 Weather in Sacramento will transition from sunny to wet in late March, with temperatures staying on the cooler side, according to the Old Farmer Almanac’s 60-day extended forecast. —Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacramento Bee, 21 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
  • After spending more than five years living in Seattle (aka one of the rainiest cities in the U.S.), my collection of rain-appropriate outerwear is robust, to say the least.
    — Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2025
  • Not only do these five options live up to our (very) high standards, but they have been tested over time, throughout all seasons and weather, and in different parts of the country (including rainy Seattle, WA).
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 May 2025
Definition of rainy
Adjective
  • Occasionally a table will be brought out to suggest another bar, another time, for Elmer to get drunk in and pick a fight, or a safe will be wheeled on stage for the clueless Elmer to try to blow up.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Ferguson was drunk at the time, according to prosecutors.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Definition of drunk
Adjective
  • Rakestraw was excellent in training camp last year, showing a knack for the ball, sticky coverage and physicality in the run game.
    — Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Vionic Kimmie Sneakers $130 $60 at Amazon These Vionic sneakers have perforated suede leather uppers that provide maximum airflow to keep your feet cool on hot, sticky afternoons.
    — Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 28 Apr. 2025
Definition of sticky
Adjective
  • Weak Treasury Demand Moved Rates More recently, in the wake of the administration’s chaotic trade policy rollout, Treasury security auctions did not go as expected, with weak demand pushing rates up higher than everyone expected.
    — Norbert Michel, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • That’s why he’s been able to generate so much weak contact over the years.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2025
Definition of weak
Noun
  • The forecast was also right for the evening, and there wasn’t a trace of rain before or after Lady Gaga’s show.
    — Billboard Brasil, Billboard, 5 May 2025
  • These areas could be faced with flash flooding and frequent lightning due to stronger, slow-moving thunderstorms with torrential rain.
    — Daniel Peck, ABC News, 4 May 2025
Definition of rain
Verb
  • The brand reworked some of its most famous styles for the capsule, like reimagining washed denim jackets into denim chore-style coats.
    — Violet Goldstone, Footwear News, 2 May 2025
  • They are easily packed, lightweight, wash easily, and come in many colors.
    — Aly Walansky, Travel + Leisure, 1 May 2025
Definition of wash
Adjective
  • Some of these areas have already seen a lot of rain from the past week, making the ground very saturated.
    — Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 3 May 2025
  • This diet usually limits foods rich in saturated fats, sugar, and salt.
    — Carrie Madormo, RN, MPH, Verywell Health, 2 May 2025
Definition of saturated
Adjective
  • Her continued testimony is expected to play a crucial role in the trial over whether Read killed O’Keefe, her boyfriend, in January 2022 with her SUV during a drunken fit of rage, or whether she was framed for his murder by law enforcement officers.
    — Michael Loria, USA Today, 1 May 2025
  • In the plane with me were the pilot and our drunken passenger.
    — Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 1 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 May. 2025.

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