as in wetting
to make or become slightly or moderately wet
moisten the cloth before cleaning with it
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Recent Examples of moistening
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
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
Verb
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Blot — don’t rub — and avoid over-wetting the mattress, which can lead to mold growth if moisture gets trapped inside.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
11 Apr. 2026
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Water at the base of plants instead of wetting the entire garden with a sprinkler or hose.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Descaling involves running a vinegar or commercial descaling solution through the machine to flush out mineral buildup, then rinsing it out with multiple water cycles.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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Instead of soaking, the seed can also be cleaned by rinsing it under fast, hot running water multiple times.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That water still cannot be used for any purpose beyond toilet flushing, city officials said.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
26 Apr. 2026
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Water line flushing was completed, and water samples citywide continue to be analyzed, officials said.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Late last year, former President Jair Bolsonaro endorsed his son Flavio as the right’s candidate, damping investor expectations that Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas would gain broader backing.—
Giovanna Bellotti Azevedo,
Bloomberg,
7 Apr. 2026
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While your seed starting mix mustn't fully dry out, keeping it overly wet and soggy can lead to damping off and other issues that will kill your seedlings.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The other method is by hand-washing the blanket in a bathtub with cool water and a wool detergent.—
Ashley Poskin,
Martha Stewart,
2 May 2026
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The best way to get rid of the musty storage smell is through washing your clothes, but Ceconi recommends a few extra steps that ensure the odor really goes away.—
Melissa Epifano,
The Spruce,
1 May 2026
Verb
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One of San Francisco's busiest freeways remained shut down Saturday, creating major traffic delays and dampening business for some local restaurants and shops.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
19 Apr. 2026
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Build budgets that defend your savings without dampening your enthusiasm.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Moistening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moistening. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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