Synonyms of douse

douse 1 of 3

verb (1)

variants also dowse

1

as in to extinguish

to cause to cease burning

douse the campfire before leaving in the morning

Synonyms & Similar Words

• extinguish
• quench
• put out
• blanket
• smother
• suffocate
• snuff (out)
• choke
• blow out
• stamp (out)
• stub
• snub (out)
• rub out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fire
• light
• ignite
• inflame
• kindle

2

as in to drown

to make wet

the heavy rains thoroughly doused the tourists strolling the town streets

Synonyms & Similar Words

• drown
• wet
• wash
• flood
• drench
• soak
• bathe
• rinse
• water
• sprinkle
• sodden
• submerge
• wet down
• flush
• damp
• sop
• waterlog
• moisten
• dip
• dampen
• water-soak
• saturate
• mist
• drizzle
• inundate
• souse
• splash
• shower
• bedraggle
• hydrate
• moisturize
• deluge
• humidify
• irrigate
• impregnate
• swamp
• overflow
• bedew
• asperse
• hose (down)
• steep
• slosh
• lave
• dunk
• rehydrate
• duck
• sluice
• rewash
• rewet

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dry
• scorch
• evaporate
• dehydrate
• sear
• desiccate
• parch
• dewater
• wring
• freeze-dry
• dehumidify
• drip-dry

3

as in to dip

to sink or push (something) briefly into or as if into a liquid

douse the grapes in water to remove any grit

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dip
• immerse
• drown
• soak
• submerge
• dunk
• duck
• moisten
• submerse
• bathe
• wet
• drench
• steep
• sop
• souse
• flood
• thrust
• plunge
• dive

douse

2 of 3

verb (2)

ˈdau̇s 

as in to remove

to rid oneself of (a garment)

in those days a gentleman would douse his hat when going indoors

Synonyms & Similar Words

• remove
• doff
• shed
• put off
• peel (off)
• take off
• shrug off
• kick (off)
• strip
• undress
• disrobe
• husk

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• don
• put on
• throw (on)
• wear
• slip (into)
• clothe
• array
• rig
• suit
• apparel
• dress
• bedeck
• garb
• attire
• robe

douse

3 of 3

noun

ˈdüs 

British

as in blow

a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument

those soccer hooligans need a sound douse or two from a police officer's club

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blow
• slap
• knock
• hit
• swipe
• thump
• lick
• whack
• poke
• punch
• smack
• spank
• pound
• thud
• stroke
• beat
• slam
• bang
• chop
• clap
• swat
• switch
• kick
• lash
• hook
• dab
• smash
• clip
• pelt
• pick
• crack
• bash
• clout
• belt
• slug
• hack
• fillip
• bat
• plump
• licking
• sock
• stripe
• box
• biff
• wham
• thwack
• bop
• buffet
• pounding
• wallop
• welt
• rap
• bust
• whop
• stinger
• cuff
• knee
• beating
• hand
• haymaker
• left
• counter
• swing
• larrup
• shiver
• whip
• right
• sucker punch
• whipping
• hammering
• counterstroke
• body blow
• roundhouse
• thrashing
• counterblow
• pummeling
• battering
• one-two
• counterpunch
• knockdown
• flogging
• clobbering
• rabbit punch
• uppercut
• pasting
• KO
• drubbing
• sidewinder
• lambasting
• knockout
• walloping
• bludgeoning
• cudgeling
• bastinado
• cruncher
• kayo
• right-hander

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of douse

Verb

As his players doused each other with beer and puffed smoke throughout the room, Venable said neither cigars nor champagne are quite his style. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Converging tropical storm systems that doused parts of the Front Range and Eastern Plains with rain this week — while largely skipping over metro Denver — blanketed the summit of Pikes Peak with snow Thursday. — Katie Langford, Denver Post, 1 Oct. 2026

Noun

For a sweeter option, the sourdough waffle also tasted textbook with a douse of maple syrup. — Restaurant Critic, Houston Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2026

Then came two sons calling about an alcoholic father who drank to douse the stress of his perfectionism. — Leslie Jamison, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025