moisten

verb

ˈmȯi-sᵊn How to pronounce moisten (audio)
Definition of moistennext
as in to wet
to make or become slightly or moderately wet moisten the cloth before cleaning with it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 moisten Fill small containers or cell packs with potting soil and moisten. — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026 After watering, dig a small hole to check if the top 6 inches or so of soil are moistened. — Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026 Avoid sprinklers, which will moisten the stems and leaves more than the base of the plant; more water will evaporate than soak into your plants' roots. — Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 4 July 2026 Fan and towels There are dozens of cooling products soccer lovers can use to stay cool, such as portable fans and hand towels that can be moistened with water. — Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for moisten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moisten
  1. wet
  2. damp
  3. rinse
  4. wash
  5. dampen
  6. flush
Verb
  • Havenith said deliberately wetting clothing can provide evaporative cooling, including for older adults who may not sweat as effectively.
    — Aya Diab, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • For best results, water deeply at the base of the plant, allowing moisture to soak into the root zone rather than wetting the foliage, says Kelly Funk, president and CEO of Jackson & Perkins.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of wet
Verb
  • This helps the roots start growing but doesn’t make the bulbs damp enough to rot.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The chassis features a unique rear hinge that splits slightly upon impact, helping to damp street vibrations and preventing the scooter from bottoming out on minor debris.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of damp
Verb
  • According to Typology, apply the serum directly to your eyelashes and eyebrows, and do not rinse.
    — Iman Balagam, Vogue, 27 Aug. 2026
  • But their work is less likely to become clichéd, because any stale fixations will always be rinsed and refreshed by the real.
    — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of rinse
Verb
  • People pointed to enormous rocks that had been washed downriver during the earlier floods, as others standing on a suspension bridge over the water were warned off with whistles.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Some pointed to enormous rocks washed downriver during the earlier floods, while others standing on a suspension bridge were warned off with whistles.
    — Victoria Milko, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of wash
Verb
  • Apart from the penalty, Meta agreed as part of the settlement to algorithmic changes that could dampen engagement and the effectiveness of its advertising, dampening investor sentiment toward the resolution of the case.
    — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
  • None of these concerns has dampened Yang’s enthusiasm for metagenomics, however.
    — Jason Liebowitz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of dampen
Verb
  • Pack a tube of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) in your first aid kit instead of antibiotic ointment and remember to flush all scrapes and cuts with copious amounts of clean water before covering them with the jelly.
    — Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Willis scrambled for a touchdown on fourth-and-3 after being flushed out the pocket by Zeek Biggers….
    — Omar Kelly August 26, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of flush

Browse Nearby Words

moist
moisten
moistened
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Moisten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moisten. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dissonant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All