moist

adjective

ˈmȯist How to pronounce moist (audio)
Synonyms of moistnext
1
: slightly or moderately wet : damp
I love cookies when they are moist and chewy.
2
: tearful
the eyes of both of us … were moist with the joy of success—Jack London
3
: characterized by high humidity
Fog is formed when warm moist air moves over a cold surface.
moistly adverb
moistness
ˈmȯis(t)-nəs How to pronounce moist (audio)
noun

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for moist

wet, damp, dank, moist, humid mean covered or more or less soaked with liquid.

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

damp implies a slight or moderate absorption and often connotes an unpleasant degree of moisture.

clothes will mildew if stored in a damp place

dank implies a more distinctly disagreeable or unwholesome dampness.

a prisoner in a cold, dank cell

moist applies to what is slightly damp or not felt as dry.

treat the injury with moist heat

humid applies to the presence of much water vapor in the air.

a hot, humid climate

Examples of moist in a Sentence

I love cookies when they are moist and chewy. The pork chops were tender and moist. a moist and spongy chocolate cake The plant grows best in direct sunlight and with rich, moist soil. She dabbed her moist eyes with a handkerchief. Fog is formed when warm moist air moves over a cold surface. The eggs will hatch sooner in warm, moist conditions.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Going forward, adhere to a consistent watering schedule so your plant stays moist, not soggy. —Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Nov. 2024 Vegetable oil: Makes for a super moist and delicate crumb, yet keeps it light and fluffy in structure. —Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 20 Nov. 2024 Gradually add chicken broth, ¼ cup at a time, until stuffing is moist. —Laura Dave, People.com, 18 Nov. 2024 Use a wet brine to keep your bird moist during the smoking process. —Nora Colomer, Fox News, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for moist 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English moiste, from Anglo-French, perhaps from Vulgar Latin *muscidus, alteration of Latin mucidus slimy, from mucus nasal mucus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of moist was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near moist

moissanite

moist

moist color

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Moist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moist. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

moist

adjective
ˈmȯist How to pronounce moist (audio)
1
: slightly or moderately wet
moist earth
2
: characterized by high humidity
moistly adverb
moistness
ˈmȯis(t)-nəs How to pronounce moist (audio)
noun

Medical Definition

moist

adjective
ˈmȯist How to pronounce moist (audio)
1
: slightly or moderately wet
2
a
: marked by a discharge or exudation of liquid
moist eczema
b
: suggestive of the presence of liquid
—used of sounds heard in auscultation
moist rales

More from Merriam-Webster on moist

Nglish: Translation of moist for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of moist for Arabic Speakers

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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

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

Popular in Wordplay

See All

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

9 Superb Owl Words

15 Words That Used to Mean Something Different
See All

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 Word Game 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?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
little chihuahua dressing like a turkey for thanksgiving
Is That Gratitude or Attitude? A Thanksgiving Quiz Decide which words express gratitude and which gi...