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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
Cotton absorbs moisture like a sponge, becoming damp and leaving you wet and cold. —Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 22 Feb. 2025 Test your seed viability by scattering several seeds on a damp paper towel, then fold the towel and place in a sealed plastic bag near a sunny window. —Betty Cahill, The Denver Post, 10 Feb. 2025
Noun
Keep It Cozy Basements often have practical finishes like cement and tile to help ward off the damp, but that doesn't mean your lower level needs to feel like a utility room. —Kelsey Mulvey, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2023 Issues such as mold and damp can lead to respiratory problems and headaches. —WIRED, 27 June 2023
Verb
That means a peace lily does best when its soil is consistently damp soil. —Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Jan. 2025 Other Christmas Cactus Care Tips Other than keeping the soil consistently damp and watering on schedule, here are a few other tips to keep in mind when caring for a Christmas cactus to ensure healthy, proper, flourishing growth! —Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2025 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
  • Salmon farms normally occur in the fjords of Norway or Chile, not on the hot, humid flats next to the Everglades.
    — Bill Kearney, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2025
  • This climate supported dense, humid forests—in fact evidence for such, in the form of plant fossils, has also been found at the Gray Fossil Site—that would have allowed the critter to cross into North America, gliding from tree to tree.
    — Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
Definition of humid
Adjective
  • Steak’s natural levels of fat and protein provide a lubricating or moist feeling in the mouth.
    — Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The meat is moist and delicious enough to pile high on a bun or enjoy on a plate of eggs or potatoes.
    — Jolene Thym, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of moist
Noun
  • Meanwhile, shea butter creates a seal over the skin barrier to trap moisture.
    — Deanna Pai, Allure, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Toners with glycerin or alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) help to retain moisture, which in turn helps restore pH to normal levels.
    — Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2025
Definition of moisture
Verb
  • Fudd then drained her first 3-pointer after an 0-for-2 start, and Strong followed her up with four straight points off another pair of Marquette turnovers.
    — Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 2 Mar. 2025
  • That fall and winter, constant power outages and air-raid alerts left them drained and on edge.
    — Michael Holtz, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of drain
Verb
  • Firefighters instead tried to aim water right into the back of the garbage truck without wetting the CNG cylinders nearby on the roof.
    — Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Hertz and his men moved behind the restaurant, trying to wet the ground and tearing down a fence that would just provide more fuel to the fire.
    — Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2025
Definition of wet
Verb
  • And a charming atmosphere, reinforced by a warm visual language (Marc Spicer serves as DP), dulls the creepiness of those early drops.
    — Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Contrast this with summer, where vacation mode dulls urgency, or winter, where holiday fatigue and short days can sap enthusiasm, spring hits a psychological sweet spot.
    — Jack Kelly, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Definition of dull
Noun
  • But low humidity, coupled with dry vegetation and winds, are a recipe for fires to spark and spread.
    — Thomas Wheatley, Axios, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Strong winds, dry conditions cause fires in Texas High winds and low humidity, as well as dry vegetation in Texas fueled wildfires across the state.
    — Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2025
Definition of humidity
Verb
  • There are eight issues that have begun to undermine the stock market's shaky support.
    — John S. Tobey, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
  • His brave stand, like the legendary Dutch hero whose finger in the dike blocked a flood, still holds back the efforts of Putin, Xi Jinping, and their allies to undermine democracy — in the Baltics, Poland, Western Europe, and Taiwan, and in Trump’s United States.
    — Trudy Rubin, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of undermine

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Cite this Entry

“Damp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damp. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

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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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