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wet

28 synonyms and 1 antonym for wet, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Covered in or soaked with liquid, usually water.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

bewatered drenched madid irriguous moisty overwatered plashy soggy sodden soppy spewy spongy squidgy thoan thone undried waterlogged watery wetter than an otter's pocket wiery

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Covered in or soaked with liquid, usually water.

“Her hair was still wet from the shower.”

bewatered damp drenched dripping drunk humid madid irriguous moist moisty overwatered plashy saturated soaked soggy sodden soppy spewy spongy squidgy thoan thone undried watered waterlogged watery wetter than an otter's pocket wiery

Opposites

dry

2. verb

To make something wet by applying liquid to it.

“Wet the cloth before you wipe down the counter.”

Opposites

dry

How to use wet

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

soaking wet wet weather wet paint wet blanket

The "spineless person" sense is mainly British slang and can sound old-fashioned or schoolyard.

Etymology

From Old English wǣt, related to the word "water" itself — both trace back to an ancient root simply meaning "water" or "wet."

Full origin of wet →

Frequently asked questions

What does “wet” mean?
The word “wet” means covered in or soaked with liquid, usually water. In plain terms, covered in liquid, or (of weather) rainy; informally, someone spineless.
How do you pronounce “wet”?
“Wet” is pronounced WEHT (/ˈwɛt/ in IPA).
How do you use “wet” in a sentence?
Here is “wet” used in a sentence: “Her hair was still wet from the shower.”
What is another word for “wet”?
Words with a similar meaning to “wet” include bewatered, damp, drenched, dripping, drunk and humid.
What is the opposite of “wet”?
The opposite of “wet” — its antonyms — is dry.
What part of speech is “wet”?
Depending on how it is used, “wet” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “wet” come from?
The word “wet” comes from Old English. From Old English wǣt, related to the word "water" itself — both trace back to an ancient root simply meaning "water" or "wet.".
Is “wet” a common word?
“Wet” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between wet, damp, and moist?
They describe increasing amounts of liquid. 'Damp' means slightly wet — a light, often unwanted trace of moisture. 'Moist' means noticeably but pleasantly wet, as with cake or soil. 'Wet' is the strongest, meaning covered in or soaked with liquid. Something soaked or dripping is fully wet, not merely damp.
What is the opposite of wet?
The direct opposite is 'dry,' meaning free from liquid or moisture. Depending on context you might also use 'parched' or 'arid' for extreme dryness, as with land or weather. A towel straight from the wash is wet; once all the water has gone, it is dry.
Does 'wet' always mean water?
No. Although water is the usual cause, anything covered in or soaked with liquid is wet — paint, oil, ink or juice all leave a surface wet. The word simply describes the presence of liquid, so 'wet paint' warns that the coating has not yet dried, whatever the fluid.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.