Definition

In a way that is damp, musty, or unpleasantly moist.

Example

The basement was dankly filled with the smell of mildew.

Conversation

Did you notice how dankly it smelled in the basement yesterday?

Yeah, it was pretty musty down there!

I think we should get a dehumidifier to fix that dankly atmosphere.

Good idea! It would make the space so much more pleasant.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Dankly → The word 'dank' originates from Middle Dutch 'danc', meaning moist or damp, combined with the adverbial suffix '-ly' (meaning in a manner of). Thus, 'dankly' means in a manner that is moist or damp.

Memory Tip

Think of the Middle Dutch word for moist ('danc') to remember that 'dankly' describes something done in a moist or damp manner.

Visually Confused Words