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DictionarydankCold and damp
adjective

dank

DANK/dæŋk/

Unpleasantly damp, cold, and musty.

The dank basement smells musty even with the windows open.

A cold, clammy cellar corner: moisture beads on stained masonry, water seeps into a shallow floor puddle, and mold mottles the base of the wall.
Etymology
dankEnglishdamp; unpleasantly moist

The earlier verb dank meant “to moisten,” especially of mist and dew; the adjective describes saturation with cold moisture. Its origin is uncertain, perhaps Scandinavian or German.

In context

Storytime Haven40:57
Nothing grew in the dank air but crawling things which were horrible to the eye. There were great rank growths of toadstools
🌑 The Moon Rock 🌒 | A Haunting Tale of Mystery and Ambition by Arthur J. Rees

More examples

  • A dank smell rises from the old cellar.
  • The tunnel grows danker as we walk farther inside.
  • A dehumidifier helps make the room less dank.

Forms

dank · danker · dankest

dankness noun — The state of being damp, cold, and musty.

Similar words

damp
Damp means slightly wet, without necessarily suggesting cold or mustiness.
clammy
Clammy describes an unpleasantly cold, sticky moisture, often on skin.
musty
Musty emphasizes a stale, moldy smell rather than moisture itself.