Antonyms for whet


Grammar : Verb
Spell : hwet, wet
Phonetic Transcription : ʰwɛt, wɛt


Definition of whet

Origin :
  • Old English hwettan, from Proto-Germanic *khwatjanan (cf. Old Norse hvetja "to sharpen, encourage," Middle Low German, Middle Dutch wetten, Old High German wezzan, German wetzen "to sharpen," Gothic ga-hvatjan "to sharpen, incite"), from an adjective represented by Old English hwæt "brave, bold," Old Saxon hwat "sharp," from Proto-Germanic *khwataz, from PIE root *qwed- "sharp" (cf. Sanskrit codati "incites," literally "sharpens"). Figurative sense was in Old English.
  • verb make sharp
  • verb arouse, excite
Example sentences :
  • To whet my appetite for Egypt now, I have to have something tasty.
  • Extract from : « It Happened in Egypt » by C. N. Williamson
  • We need something to awaken our attention, to whet our appetite, and to contrast our joys.
  • Extract from : « Imogen » by William Godwin
  • No more than that; nothing that can betray us; yet enough to whet his lordship's appetite.
  • Extract from : « The Lion's Skin » by Rafael Sabatini
  • And have you thought how to whet the courage of your troopers?
  • Extract from : « The Memorabilia » by Xenophon
  • Difficulties served to whet Sir Donald's desire for success.
  • Extract from : « Oswald Langdon » by Carson Jay Lee
  • But hunger will whet his appetite for anything that his bowels can digest.
  • Extract from : « Ten Thousand Miles with a Dog Sled » by Hudson Stuck
  • I fear we shall none of us get more than will whet our appetite.
  • Extract from : « Sir Ludar » by Talbot Baines Reed
  • Enough of these remain to whet, though not to satisfy, the curiosity of the student.
  • Extract from : « The Maya Chronicles » by Various
  • But “if a man will not turn,” says the same text, “He will whet His sword.”
  • Extract from : « True Words for Brave Men » by Charles Kingsley
  • After grinding it is necessary to whet the chisel and other edged tools.
  • Extract from : « Handwork in Wood » by William Noyes

Synonyms for whet

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019