damp 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of dampnext
1
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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2
as in moist
slightly or moderately wet marks can usually be removed with a damp cloth

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damp

2 of 3

noun

ˈdamp How to pronounce damp (audio)
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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damp

3 of 3

verb

1
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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2
as in to wet
to make or become slightly or moderately wet damp the shirt slightly before ironing it

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3
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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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
With damp hands, shape it into a log about 12 inches long and 2½ inches wide. — Laura McLively, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026 After ten minutes of slipping on damp leaves and looking up at the treetops, I was frustrated. — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 6 Aug. 2026
Noun
Plan on a damp and rumbly late evening across the Baltimore metro and surrounding areas. — Cutter Martin, CBS News, 22 June 2026 The fillets should be a little damp, but not soaking wet. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 18 June 2026
Verb
Activated by a light mist of water or applied to damp skin, the nanofiber patch dissolves on contact, delivering ingredients that help stimulate collagen while creating an invisible shield against pollution. — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 21 July 2026 Apply cool, damp towels on your dog’s neck, armpits and groin. — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for damp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damp
  1. humid
  2. moist
  3. moisture
  4. drain
  5. wet
  6. dull
  7. humidity
  8. undermine
Adjective
  • Wednesday is hot and humid with heat indices peaking in the triple digits.
    — Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026
  • While the worst issues were discovered at the Sleep Inn, site visits at the Holiday Inn and Fairfield Inn also revealed water stains, humid laundry facilities and signs of pests.
    — Renee Anderson, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of humid
Adjective
  • That has a stronger impact in ecosystems like Canada’s boreal forests, California’s Sierra Nevada mountains and parts of temperate Europe that evolved under relatively cool, moist conditions.
    — Bloomberg, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Water in the early morning and again in the early evening, delivering enough water so that the sod and soil remain moist and cool.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of moist
Noun
  • The dark layer above it is thin and faint, meaning the rains that followed were weak, probably due to a cooled Indian Ocean sending less moisture inland.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Just keep in mind that this evaporative cooling trick doesn’t work very well in high-humidity locations and can actually make the room feel warmer by more moisture to the air.
    — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of moisture
Verb
  • Your table is ready, the waiter said, and Rebecca drained her glass and stood.
    — Emma Cline, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Most of the region’s sewers were engineered generations ago to drain well under 2 inches of rain per hour, and a cloudburst can deliver double that amount.
    — Ravi S. Bhalla, New York Daily News, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of drain
Verb
  • Arrange some small, flat stones around the puddle to give the butterflies a place to land, and then add enough water to moisten or wet the sand.
    — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Pyne argues that Mediterranean Europe, much like California, is naturally predisposed to burn because of an annual cycle of wetting and drying.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of wet
Verb
  • Perhaps the palm-tree mural emphasizes the open windowlessness of the subterranean, or the flat color dulls exertion.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Abrasive scrubbers can dull protective and glossy topcoats and strip oils from wood, so use something with milder scrubbing power.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of dull
Noun
  • With the high humidity back in place, any storms that develop will be capable of producing torrential downpours that could lead to flash flooding.
    — Matthew Villafane, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Their bloom cycle is affected by day length, temperature, humidity, water and feeding.
    — Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of humidity
Verb
  • Turning this whole thing into a joke also undermines the danger of the Trawler — just how seriously are we supposed to take this threat?
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Dynastic rivalries, regional rebellions, economic disruption, and the demographic effects of the Black Death all undermined imperial authority.
    — Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of undermine

Browse Nearby Words

damn well
damp
damped
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Cite this Entry

“Damp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damp. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on damp

Nglish: Translation of damp for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about damp

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