humid

adjective

ˈhyü-məd How to pronounce humid (audio)
Definition of humidnext
as in damp
containing or characterized by an uncomfortable amount of moisture the air was so humid that our beach towels hanging on the line never really got dry

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How is the word humid distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of humid are damp, dank, moist, and wet. While all these words mean "covered or more or less soaked with liquid," humid applies to the presence of much water vapor in the air.

a hot, humid climate

When is it sensible to use damp instead of humid?

While the synonyms damp and humid are close in meaning, 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 humid?

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

a prisoner in a cold, dank cell

In what contexts can moist take the place of humid?

The synonyms moist and humid are sometimes interchangeable, but moist applies to what is slightly damp or not felt as dry.

treat the injury with moist heat

Where would wet be a reasonable alternative to humid?

The meanings of wet and humid largely overlap; however, 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 humid Episode 7 - In The Heat of The Night: With the Singapore Grand Prix proving to be a humid and tough race, the episode highlights the preparations of five drivers from the F1 grid. — Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025 These experiments indicate the region was a humid, heavily wooded forest 150,000 years ago, full of dense shrubs and large trees like African elemi (Canarium schweinfurthii) and African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Mar. 2025 In humid regions like the Southeast, where there is an abundance of dense vegetation, periods of warm, dry conditions that dry out that vegetation will increase the risk of wildfire. — Lauren Lowman, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2025 Lighter winds will continue through Tuesday as temperatures warm to close to 60 degrees and more humid air returns to the region. — Karina Tsui, CNN, 2 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for humid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humid
  1. damp
  2. sticky
  3. muggy
Adjective
  • Leave-in conditioner: Wash your hair and leave it slightly damp.
    — Carley Millhone, Health, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Dusting With Water Work smarter not harder and dust surfaces with a damp cloth rather than a dry one.
    — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2025
Definition of damp
Adjective
  • Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty Images Inflation could prove sticky while prices might pick up again, Federal Reserve Governor Adriana Kugler warned, signaling that the U.S. central bank should keep interest rates steady for the time.
    — Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Inflation has proven sticky in recent months and consumers are starting to pull back on spending, which, if sustained, may lead businesses to rethink their hiring plans.
    — Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of sticky
Adjective
  • Everything's hot and muggy, and there's voodoo and magic and booze and music permeating the air.
    — Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 6 Dec. 2024
  • Some spots in the desert Southwest were expecting temperatures topping 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius), and hot, muggy conditions also permeated the Deep South and Middle Atlantic.
    — Prarthana Prakash, Fortune, 5 July 2024
Definition of muggy

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Cite this Entry

“Humid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humid. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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