variants
also dowsed
as in dripping
containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water
shook the water out of her thoroughly doused hair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in removed
to rid oneself of (a garment)
in those days a gentleman would douse his hat when going indoors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also dowsed
1
as in extinguished
to cause to cease burning
douse the campfire before leaving in the morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in drowned
to make wet
the heavy rains thoroughly doused the tourists strolling the town streets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of doused
Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
My mom stayed up with me all night in the hotel, passing me cotton pads doused in witch hazel and cold water.
—Amanda Peet, New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2026
Then Schultz doused us in confetti and walked around the crowd — Bono-style.
—Ramon Ramirez, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
Willacy later doused Sather in gasoline, disabled the smoke detectors in the home, and placed a fan at her feet to provide oxygen to the ensuing fire.
—News Service Of Florida, Sun Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026
Two fireboats doused the vessel with water and foam to put out the blaze, with a helicopter assisting.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
Workers using an excavator stationed on a barge filled more than 72 bins, each holding up to 20 cubic yards of waste, with debris from the water, much of which was doused in oil.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 4 Mar. 2026
The shuttered Pier 54 in San Francisco caught fire Sunday, and firefighters — including a fire boat crew — doused the smoldering blaze, officials said.
—David Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Mar. 2026
The incident was just as ugly as one in 2019, when cops were doused with water in the middle of a heatwave while trying to make an arrest.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
Six weeks later, a 26-year-old woman riding the Blue Line downtown was doused in gasoline and lit on fire in an attack that appeared to be completely random.
—Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
My mom stayed up with me all night in the hotel, passing me cotton pads doused in witch hazel and cold water.
—Amanda Peet, New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2026
Then Schultz doused us in confetti and walked around the crowd — Bono-style.
—Ramon Ramirez, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
Willacy later doused Sather in gasoline, disabled the smoke detectors in the home, and placed a fan at her feet to provide oxygen to the ensuing fire.
—News Service Of Florida, Sun Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026
Two fireboats doused the vessel with water and foam to put out the blaze, with a helicopter assisting.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
Workers using an excavator stationed on a barge filled more than 72 bins, each holding up to 20 cubic yards of waste, with debris from the water, much of which was doused in oil.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 4 Mar. 2026
The shuttered Pier 54 in San Francisco caught fire Sunday, and firefighters — including a fire boat crew — doused the smoldering blaze, officials said.
—David Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Mar. 2026
The incident was just as ugly as one in 2019, when cops were doused with water in the middle of a heatwave while trying to make an arrest.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 28 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doused
Adjective
-
All of this has been the culmination of slow-dripping songs for a few years before one of them finally took hold.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles actress has been laying low since giving birth last summer, albeit making a surprise appearance in a nude optical illusion corset dress that appeared to be dripping with blood at a special Jennifer’s Body event in October.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Conditions in Kauai have improved significantly, but authorities encourage people to exercise caution near streams and low-lying areas as grounds remain saturated.—
Jen Murphy,
Outside,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The color combos of hyper-saturated and nearly neon lilac, fuchsia, peach, and the like.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Prepare homemade tiger nut milk (horchata) by blending soaked tiger nuts with water.—
Lana Barhum,
Verywell Health,
23 Feb. 2026
-
These pre-soaked pads pair pore-clearing salicylic acid with a gentle dose of texture-refining retinol, while cica and green tea ceramide from Korea’s mineral-rich Jeju Island soothe and calm skin.—
Sarah Han,
Allure,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
As far as the yellow bed sheets go, this feels like the truest butter yellow—still pastel but not white-washed.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Better Homes & Gardens Paisley Medallion Cotton Quilt To keep you cool throughout the warmer seasons, the BHG x Walmart quilt is made from 100% cotton with a pre-washed and pre-shrunk cotton fill for maximum softness, comfort, and breathability.—
Carly Totten,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
When coming to a flooded road, turn around and head back.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Mar. 2026
-
When coming to a flooded road, turn around and head back.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Kahului has already experienced its wettest month on record with nearly 20 inches of rain.—
Isabel Yip,
NBC news,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Proper mop technique to avoid water damage The goal for cleaning wood floors should be damp mopping, not wet mopping.—
Dan Simms,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
When TikTok virality and playlist automation saturate listeners’ attention, artistic sameness threatens to rule the day—but independent artists on their own unique paths are still with us.—
Jenn Pelly,
Time,
7 June 2025
-
Rain could aid firefighting efforts and saturate dry fuels, reducing their risk of igniting in the future.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Doused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doused. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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