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
Stay away from water, wet items, and metal objects. —Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2025 The cyclist momentarily lost control of his motorcycle on wet pavement. —Jon Rabiroff, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
Noun
Unfortunately, in the case of going to bed with wet (or even damp) hair, the downsides might outweigh the benefits. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Oct. 2024 The j series adds a camera for obstacle avoidance, and higher-end models in that line like the Combo j9+ ($1,199.99) have a retractable mop to clean hardwood floors and carpeting in a single run without getting the latter wet. —PCMAG, 8 Aug. 2024
Verb
Once closed, a waterproof seal keeps those bits from wetting and rusting. —New Atlas, 20 June 2025 Traditional evaporators don’t work well in wet weather, but this new material stands up much better to wetting and drying, just like the rainforest birds that inspired it. —Ian Rose, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 June 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
  • Special agents alongside local law enforcement spent their rainy Wednesday going to businesses all over South Florida, including gas stations, grocery stores and retail stores.
    — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 23 July 2025
  • The weekend is looking rainy, with showers and thunderstorms forecast both Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27, and a high of 88 both days.
    — Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 22 July 2025
Definition of rainy
Adjective
  • The victim told police Cruz-Diaz was drunk and high when the incident happened.
    — Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 29 July 2025
  • Happy is miserable, drunk, broke, and working at the local Stop and Shop, where his daily grind is only broken up by taking nips from increasingly insane flasks (a cucumber, a TV remote, and many more).
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 25 July 2025
Definition of drunk
Adjective
  • The motivation behind the trend is understandable—no one wants sticky detergent dripping all over their hands or laundry room.
    — Kendall Bettle, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2025
  • The underside of the stones is bonded to the sticky asphalt cement.
    — Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 2 Aug. 2025
Definition of sticky
Adjective
  • This downward movement was attributed to both weak job figures and a new round of U.S. tariffs announced by Trump.
    — Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Aug. 2025
  • Last month and August 2024 also saw a weak start, so this comes as no surprise.
    — Billy Bambrough, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Definition of weak
Noun
  • According to Lynette Ng, spokesperson for Unite Here Local 26, the union representing concession workers at the home of the Boston Red Sox, the striking workers held strong through sweltering heat and occasional rain to make their voices heard.
    — Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 29 July 2025
  • China’s dominance of the Mekong River in particular has enabled it to reinforce its position in Laos and Cambodia, to the detriment of the local agricultural sectors whenever there is a shortfall of rain upstream within China.
    — Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
Definition of rain
Verb
  • The water piped into homes is often used for washing clothes, bathing and watering gardens.
    — Jake Goodrick July 25, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2025
  • Regular gravel grinding means regularly washing your bike and lubricating the chain.
    — Eric Bangeman, ArsTechnica, 25 July 2025
Definition of wash
Adjective
  • While this rainfall is not expected to be as extreme as last weekend, the threshold for flash flooding to develop is lower due to the ground being very saturated from recent heavy rain in the region.
    — Dan Peck, ABC News, 12 July 2025
  • The saturated ground means even minimal rainfall can trigger further flooding, complicating rescue efforts.
    — Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025
Definition of saturated
Adjective
  • Officers responding to reports of a possible drunken driver at a Petaluma gas station found the black Kia Sol about three minutes before the crash on a nearby road and tried to pull it over, police said.
    — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 21 July 2025
  • The crash happened at about 10:15 p.m. Saturday after authorities received a report of a possible drunken driver at a gas station on Lakeville Highway, according to the Santa Rosa and Petaluma police departments.
    — Gary Klien, Mercury News, 21 July 2025
Definition of drunken

Phrases Containing wet

Browse Nearby Words

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 5 Aug. 2025.

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