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whet

4 antonyms for whet — opposites grouped by meaning.

Verb — To sharpen a blade or tool by rubbing it against a stone.

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To sharpen a blade or tool by rubbing it against a stone.

“He whetted the kitchen knife on a small stone before slicing the vegetables.”

Opposites

2. verb

To make an appetite, interest, or desire stronger.

“The smell of garlic whetted her appetite before dinner even arrived.”

Opposites

Antonyms

How to use whet

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

whet your appetite whet a blade whet someone's curiosity

Etymology

From Old English hwettan, "to sharpen" or, figuratively, "to spur someone on" — the physical and mental senses have travelled together since Old English.

Full origin of whet →

Frequently asked questions

What does “whet” mean?
The word “whet” means to sharpen a blade or tool by rubbing it against a stone. In plain terms, to sharpen something physically, or to sharpen someone's appetite or interest.
How do you pronounce “whet”?
“Whet” is pronounced WEHT (/ˈwɛt/ in IPA).
How do you use “whet” in a sentence?
Here is “whet” used in a sentence: “He whetted the kitchen knife on a small stone before slicing the vegetables.”
What part of speech is “whet”?
“Whet” is a verb.
Where does the word “whet” come from?
The word “whet” comes from Old English. From Old English hwettan, "to sharpen" or, figuratively, "to spur someone on" — the physical and mental senses have travelled together since Old English.
How many meanings does “whet” have?
“Whet” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to sharpen a blade or tool by rubbing it against a stone.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.