damp 1 of 3

damp

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noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

damp

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verb

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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
Senator Ruben Gallego met me outside the Senate gym, still slightly damp. Charlotte Alter, Time, 19 May 2025 Smooth it through damp or dry hair from mid-lengths to ends before styling, then finish with a tad more on the tips once you're done for extra oomph. Amanda Mitchell, Allure, 16 May 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
When the valve arrests the parallel flow, the damping forces rise in correlation to the duration of one-way piston movement on the rebound side. Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 5 Dec. 2024 Ride quality is good in the Privilege AWD as this car has active air suspension with continuous damping control. James Morris, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for damp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damp
Adjective
  • The outdoor market is held year-round, but Florida weather from March through October is hot and humid.
    Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 3 June 2025
  • The fuel, namely liquid sodium metal, is in one of the chambers, while the other is filled with humid air.
    Ben Coxworth June 02, New Atlas, 2 June 2025
Adjective
  • Clethra can be planted in consistently moist soil in Zones 3 to 9.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 May 2025
  • Put together a basic emergency kit, with water and shelf stable foods for up to a week, flash lights, back up batteries, a first aid kit and moist towelettes.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 27 May 2025
Noun
  • Waterproof bags and pouches help keep essentials like my phone, wallet, and book safe from moisture and sand.
    Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 28 May 2025
  • Ballistic nylon: Often used on the interior, ballistic nylon can keep moisture away from your gear.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2025
Verb
  • Treating this condition involves surgery to implant a shunt to drain excess fluid from the inside of the skull, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
    Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2025
  • Preventative measures There are ways to avoid such a financially and emotionally draining situation.
    Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • His mother wet a sponge to moisten his lips and tongue.
    Stephanie Armour, Miami Herald, 29 May 2025
  • The president’s health has been the subject of speculation for years; in 2023, six journalists were arrested after they were accused of sharing a video that appeared to show the president wetting himself.
    Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • These products can also cause buildup and dull your hair.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 26 May 2025
  • The edge gap is the widening space between marketing strategies that sharpen a brand’s competitive edge and those dulled by algorithmic automation, uniform targeting and the rinse-and-repeat logic of platform and industry best practice.
    Liam Wade, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • These flowering shrubs can take the heat and humidity.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 May 2025
  • The space has both humidifiers, dehumidifiers and fans to keep the temperature as close to 60% humidity as possible.
    Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • But their deadly design may undermine human health, too.
    Matt Fuchs, Time, 5 June 2025
  • But years of storms have undermined the existing Southernmost Plaza where the marker sits.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 5 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Damp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damp. Accessed 8 Jun. 2025.

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