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 drown
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 a few weeks, my husband and I will be getting wet in the wild in Zambia. —Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2026 The Denver metro area is expected to stay mainly rainy, but wet snowflakes may mix in at times on Monday, especially as temperatures fall during the day. —Joe Ruch, CBS News, 18 May 2026
Noun
For wood, use a lightly damp mop — not soaking wet — to avoid warping or water damage. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2026 That includes multiple versions of the viral Airwrap curler, Corrale straightener, and Airstrait wet-to-dry hair straightener. —Victoria Song, The Verge, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
Another Pearl Girl wets herself when the Eyes come for Thalia. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2026 Spray wets leaves and in the cool hours, leaves are susceptible to deadly molds and mildew. —Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for wet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wet
  1. dripping
  2. rainy
  3. drunk
  4. sticky
  5. weak
  6. rain
  7. drown
  8. saturated
Adjective
  • Mama Brown as dripping in jewelry.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
  • Perhaps because the maker is so iconic—dripping with diamonds and all—White Diamonds has stayed a prevalently popular scent for over 20 years.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
Definition of dripping
Adjective
  • Photos from the rainy Buckingham Palace gathering — complete with umbrellas and overcast skies — further echoed familiar scenes from the late monarch’s reign.
    — Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
  • That's it on this rainy Tuesday with 36 holes of golf on my schedule this week.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
Definition of rainy
Adjective
  • On Friday, May 15, a Qantas flight traveling from Melbourne, Australia, to Dallas, Texas, was diverted to Tahiti after a man who appeared to be drunk emerged from the bathroom and exhibited disruptive behavior toward flight attendants.
    — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
  • And as a result, their readthrough found all of them, potentially still drunk trying to get through it.
    — Reshma Gopaldas, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
Definition of drunk
Adjective
  • Belonging to the same group of mammals as sloths and anteaters, armadillos are voracious insectivores that eat large numbers of beetles, grubs, ants, termites, and other insects, grabbing them with their sticky tongues.
    — Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 19 May 2026
  • If a creature is small enough to swallow and not spiny or sticky or otherwise resists Yoshi's tongue, it will be turned into a green egg that's the series standard.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 19 May 2026
Definition of sticky
Adjective
  • Free agency is weak, so the best bet will be the trade market.
    — Michael Russo, New York Times, 15 May 2026
  • The original vision of the Accords – of a rapidly expanding regional bloc openly aligned with Israel and integrated economically across the Middle East – has become a significantly weaker prospect.
    — Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 15 May 2026
Definition of weak
Noun
  • If left out, they can get weathered and moldy from the rain and become home to bugs or allergens.
    — Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 14 May 2026
  • Why this matters for safety and cost Inadequately maintained roads and drainage systems become dangerous during heavy rain, extreme heat, or winter weather.
    — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
Definition of rain
Verb
  • The Detroit fans who stuck around until the end of the game were drowned out by the bus loads of Cavaliers fans.
    — Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 18 May 2026
  • However, the actor does most of the heavy lifting, even as Nemes’ aesthetic approach drowns the frame in striking shadows — a contrast made deep and inviting by Mátyás Erdély’s 35mm photography.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 17 May 2026
Definition of drown
Adjective
  • Dark Prints and Colors Porches have long defaulted to light palettes and natural finishes, but Eric Ross of Eric Ross Interiors is fielding more requests for saturated colors and bold prints—the kind of palette that usually stays indoors.
    — Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 6 May 2026
  • Excessive screen time in the evening has been linked with lower sleep quality, while diets heavy in sugars and saturated fats can also make falling asleep more difficult and the experience less restorative.
    — Tristan Bove, Fortune, 4 May 2026
Definition of saturated

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 20 May. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of wet for Spanish Speakers

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