DAMP Synonyms: 247 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'damp' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of damp are dank , humid , moist , and wet . While all these words mean "covered or more or less soaked with liquid," damp implies a slight or moderate absorption and often connotes an unpleasant degree of moisture. // clothes will mildew if stored in a damp place

Q: When would 'dank' be a good substitute for 'damp'?

In some situations, the words dank and damp are roughly equivalent. However, dank implies a more distinctly disagreeable or unwholesome dampness. // a prisoner in a cold, dank cell

Q: When could 'humid' be used to replace 'damp'?

While the synonyms humid and damp are close in meaning, humid applies to the presence of much water vapor in the air. // a hot, humid climate

Q: When can 'moist' be used instead of 'damp'?

The meanings of moist and damp largely overlap; however, moist applies to what is slightly damp or not felt as dry. // treat the injury with moist heat

Q: When is 'wet' a more appropriate choice than 'damp'?

The synonyms wet and damp are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

damp 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of damp

as in humid

containing or characterized by an uncomfortable amount of moisture the damp air made 85 degrees feel like 105

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in moist

slightly or moderately wet marks can usually be removed with a damp cloth

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

damp

2 of 3

noun

ˈdamp

as in moisture

the amount of water suspended in the air in tiny droplets we bought a dehumidifier for the basement when the damp down there began causing mold to grow

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

damp

3 of 3

verb

as in to drain

to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality refused to let the setbacks damp his drive for success

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to wet

to make or become slightly or moderately wet damp the shirt slightly before ironing it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to dull

to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling nothing seemed to damp the unwelcome attentions of her suitor

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word damp distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of damp are dank, humid, moist, and wet. While all these words mean "covered or more or less soaked with liquid," 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 would dank be a good substitute for damp?

In some situations, the words dank and damp are roughly equivalent. However, dank implies a more distinctly disagreeable or unwholesome dampness.

a prisoner in a cold, dank cell

When could humid be used to replace damp?

While the synonyms humid and damp are close in meaning, humid applies to the presence of much water vapor in the air.

a hot, humid climate

When can moist be used instead of damp?

The meanings of moist and damp largely overlap; however, moist applies to what is slightly damp or not felt as dry.

treat the injury with moist heat

When is wet a more appropriate choice than damp?

The synonyms wet and damp are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

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 damp

Adjective

Sweetspire can be planted along slopes and in damp spots in your yard. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2026 Using a long knife and wiping off with a damp kitchen towel between cuts, slice blondie into 9 squares. — Tanya Bush, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Oct. 2026

Noun

Use damp, salted hands to prevent sticking—no rice cooker or onigiri mold required. — Diana Yen, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Sep. 2026 Use a damp, soapy cloth to wipe any oil off the cabinets right away to keep it from hardening and prevent sticky surfaces. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2026

Verb

Vacuum first, then damp mop with a pH-neutral cleaner and clean water. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2026 Packing two means you’re never stuck putting on a cold, damp suit for the next swim. — Jacqueline Dole, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for damp

Recent Examples of Synonyms for damp

Adjective

Despite the warmer temperatures, moisture levels will remain relatively limited, so conditions should not feel excessively humid.

— Michael Autovino, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
The further a bean travels through humid links in the chain, the more opportunities for growth.

— Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of humid

Adjective

Oyamel firs thrive in cool, moist, mountainous environments, usually between 1,200 and 4,100 meters (3,940–13,450 feet) above sea level, where fog and precipitation are common.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026
Warm, moist air moving north fuels storms coming off the California coast.

— Wufei Yu, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of moist

Noun

Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, says the severe thunderstorms are fueled by the large amount of moisture in the air.

— Ava Berger, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026
Workers then lower these containers into bedrock shafts, surrounding them with swellable bentonite clay to absorb moisture and block movement.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of moisture

Verb

Allen drained it to extend Charlotte’s lead to 20, and then found Dennis Schröder for a high-five as Miami called a timeout.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
In hopes of restoring the water's blue hue, park rangers partially drained Morning Glory in the 1970s to extract debris.

— Sadie Chafe, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of drain

Verb

One of these chambers contains a disc of fabric that is pre-wetted with water, one contains a foaming agent made up of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and sodium bicarbonate (the main component of baking soda), and one contains a drop of eye medication.

— Ben Coxworth October 23, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026
Per a guide from Nectr, saliva wets the pouch and releases its ingredients, and how much is actually absorbed depends on the formulation and how the pouch is used.

— Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of wet

Verb

Some cleaners can dull the floor’s finish, cause damage, or leave streaks.

— Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2026
The primary effects generally wear off in less than an hour, but a person’s senses may remain dulled and their judgment and coordination impaired for several hours afterward.

— Christopher P. Holstege, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of dull

Noun

Beyond making buildings more comfortable, air conditioning has supported industrial processes, laboratories, hospitals, and data centers where temperature and humidity control matter.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
Wind gusts could reach 40 to 60 mph in some areas, accompanied by low humidity.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of humidity

Verb

There’s a sense that doubt would be a form of disloyalty to what came before you, or that admitting a weakness undermines the confidence of the people around you.

— Flavio Maluf, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Several roads near Westward Beach in Malibu are closed after additional erosion undermined the roadway and exposed a Los Angeles County water main.

— Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of undermine

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damn well

damp

damped

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Damp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damp. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of damp

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verb

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Synonyms of damp

adjective

noun

verb

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Is it 'damp down' or 'tamp down'?

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