variants
also dowse
1
as in to extinguish
to cause to cease burning
douse the campfire before leaving in the morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to drown
to make wet
the heavy rains thoroughly doused the tourists strolling the town streets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of douse
Stephen Conroy, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026
Roads in the surrounding area were temporarily closed as crews worked to douse the flames.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
And his sense of humor douses jest over images that probably shouldn’t be funny.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for douse
Verb
For the most optimistic of Bruins fans, even their hopes were doused when Beck Malenstyn scored on a deflection early in the third, followed up quickly by a Tuch goal, both goals coming off turnovers.
—Stephen Conroy, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026
Roads in the surrounding area were temporarily closed as crews worked to douse the flames.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
Beside it, a smaller vessel named Lupo sat, completely coated in thick white foam firefighters use to douse fires.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
And his sense of humor douses jest over images that probably shouldn’t be funny.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for douse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for douse
Noun
-
Shortly after the five-year anniversary of the killing of 13-year-old Adam Toledo by a Chicago police officer, the case was poised to move to a high-profile weekslong trial when a Cook County judge dealt a blow to the Toledo family’s case.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
-
Helping cushion the blow of the supply shock, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have used alternative export routes that bypass the Strait of Hormuz.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
John Carlson let fly with a slap shot that hit Poehling and trickled into the net for his fourth playoff goal.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
-
Guentzel fired a slap shot between Dobes’ legs on another 2-on-1 breakaway to tie it at 2 late in the second.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Since one of the metaphorical aspects of the script concerns how swiftly conflicts can flare up from small disagreements into major knock-down-drag-out fights, showing the violence and bared-teeth snarling is appropriate, a lighter touch could work, too.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
-
This isn't a knock against Palo Alto.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Second baseman Chase Meidroth singled and advanced to third on a Sam Antonacci double, the second hit of the night for the left fielder.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
-
On defense, cornerback Osiris Gilbert broke up multiple passes and had a few hard hits, linebacker Samuel Omosigho earned a sack, and linebacker Malaki Soliai-Tui forced a fumble.—
Sean Campbell,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
The Colorado House and Senate have entered the final two weeks of the 2026 legislative session, and both chambers were set Friday for lengthy floor votes on several hefty bills, including legislation dealing with credit card swipe fees, state labor laws and other issues.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
-
Two non-acetone solvents (propylene carbonate and methyl soyate) in the alcohol-free formula quickly break up color, shimmer, and chunky glitter with each swipe.—
Sarah Felbin,
Allure,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Yankees need Wells to provide at least some thump in a bottom third of the order that hasn’t been very good.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Moments later, a bass thump sounded in the distance.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Eventually music theory discussion turned to actual licks.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
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The Miniature Wife Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen star in this dramedy about an egocentric scientist on the verge of a breakthrough who accidentally shrinks his wife, a Pulitzer-winning author who hasn’t written a lick in more than a decade.—
Rebecca Aizin,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
When life becomes an endless game of whack-a-mole, the only winning move is to stop playing.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
1 May 2026
-
Guentzel skated in front of the net, fired a shot and then took a whack at Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobes’ pad while trying to find the puck.—
Eduardo A. Encina,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Douse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/douse. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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