moistening

verb

present participle of moisten
as in wetting
to make or become slightly or moderately wet moisten the cloth before cleaning with it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 moistening The next several days will see a cooling and moistening trend in both the Bay Area and Central Coast; temperatures are expected to be well below seasonal averages. — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026 For this, Langelo recommends moistening the soil to make the weeds easier to pull. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 26 Apr. 2026 Each watering session should deliver about 1/2 inch of water, moistening the soil to a depth of about 6 inches to support healthy root development. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026 For indoor growers, Karsch recommends moistening your seed starting mix well before filling trays or small pots and planting, then keeping it moist with a spray bottle or mister. — Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 6 Apr. 2026 Your nose is better at warming and moistening the cold, dry air than your mouth. — Susan Russell, Verywell Health, 23 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moistening
  1. wetting
  2. rinsing
  3. flushing
  4. damping
  5. washing
  6. dampening
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 wetting
Verb
  • Maintain your tub by rinsing, wiping after use, avoiding bath oils, and ventilating.
    — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Take an extra beat (and a bit of water) to emulsify the formula before rinsing it off for a thorough cleanse.
    — Sarah Han, Allure, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of rinsing
Verb
  • The book offers creative ways to manage fear and negativity — like pretend-flushing your mistakes down the toilet — before, during and after a high-stakes task.
    — Lennon Sherburne, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Your Bowel Movements Help Remove Toxins The nutrients in pears support healthy bowel movements by keeping stools soft, which also encourages the removal of toxins by flushing out the digestive system.
    — Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of flushing
Verb
  • Suspension is taken care of by 43-mm upside-down forks with adjustable rebound and compression damping, and an adjustable central spring strut at the rear.
    — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The preset low-speed compression and rebound damping settings can be fine-tuned further with twelve clicks of compression adjustment and sixteen clicks of rebound adjustment.
    — Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of damping
Verb
  • Americans aren't only paying more for food amid stubbornly high inflation — the cost of washing it down has also surged.
    — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The facility lacked sanitizer and dishes were not sanitized after washing with soap.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of washing
Verb
  • As a result, this yield spike is driving mortgage rates higher, dampening housing demand among homebuyers.
    — , CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
  • But El Niño can disrupt the winds, dampening upwelling and reducing the food supply.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of dampening

Browse Nearby Words

moistened
moistening
moistens
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Cite this Entry

“Moistening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moistening. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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