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

Flames and thick black smoke rose from the aircraft as rescue crews rushed in to douse it with fire retardant. — Maria Aguilar Prieto, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026

Made by stuffing braised pork onto crusty bread and dousing the whole thing in a tomatobased sauce, tortas ahogadas are impossible to miss and impossible to eat politely. — Michael Snyder, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Aug. 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