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
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of douse
Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
After three hours of firefighters dousing flames and a considerable number of water and retardant drops, the fire dwindled into a few persistent hotspots.
—Faith Barton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 July 2025
Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2025
Add a douse of gravy, and a smear of cranberry sauce on the inside of the top piece of toast.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for douse
Verb
Erick Fedde #12 of the St. Louis Cardinals is doused with water by Iván Herrera #48 after pitching a complete game shutout against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on May 9, 2025 in Washington, DC.
—Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
After three hours of firefighters dousing flames and a considerable number of water and retardant drops, the fire dwindled into a few persistent hotspots.
—Faith Barton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 July 2025
Noun
The commission’s members also called for prioritizing additional water storage capacity in neighborhoods, and systems with external sprinklers to douse homes, parks and schools.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2025
Add a douse of gravy, and a smear of cranberry sauce on the inside of the top piece of toast.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for douse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for douse
Noun
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The expiration of the enhanced subsidies will also deal a major blow to Covered Connecticut, a program that provides no-cost exchange plans to residents who make too much to qualify for Medicaid but still earn 175% or less than the federal poverty level.—
Jenna Carlesso,
Hartford Courant,
13 Aug. 2025
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The Postal Savings Bank, established in 1911, softened the blow of the Great Depression for millions, before being killed by the big banks in 1967.—
Mark Dimondstein,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Some of those bombardments have come immediately after Putin talked with Trump on the phone in what can only be categorized as a deliberate slap in the face.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
15 July 2025
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After hopping on stage for an infamous moment at the 2022 Academy Awards, Will Smith has hopped the pond to rap about the slap heard 'round the world.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
28 June 2025
Noun
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The knock on the 28-year-old from the UFC commentary team was his lack of finishes.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
2 Aug. 2025
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That might sound like a knock, but Rookie Cops is a surprisingly spry police procedural even if that aspect is not the main attraction (so to speak).—
Geoffrey Bunting,
Time,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Tyler Rogers — one of the marquee relievers the Mets acquired before last week’s trade deadline — surrendered three hits in the seventh inning, including a two-out, go-ahead RBI single to Steven Kwan that proved to be the game-winner.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
6 Aug. 2025
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Eagleson gave up six hits; reliever Leah Michalowski, who came in in the fifth inning with two outs, allowed two hits and gave up two runs.—
Lori Riley,
Hartford Courant,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Over the last year, the feud between Silicon Valley heavyweights Sam Altman and Elon Musk has devolved into personal attacks, social media swipes, and lawsuits.—
John Hyatt,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
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See how the device detects thumb swipes, finger taps, and handwriting gestures.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Though the latter can play third base, both are primarily generating interest, however much might be out there, for their ability to add some thump to a contending team's lineup.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 July 2025
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The wolf was quite literally at the door of the blue house on Highway 49 in Sierra County, tearing apart an elk on the front porch as the college-age son of the owner sat alone inside, listening to the thumps and snarls and hoping the latch was secure.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Musically, Benante proved the lynchpin while Wylde deftly applied his own spin to Dimebag’s iconic licks.—
Jim Ryan,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
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At one point in the video, Phoebe appears to smile as Sunny offers an affectionate lick to the head.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 July 2025
Noun
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But in a world that never slows down, our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are constantly out of whack.—
Mélanie Defouilloy,
Vogue,
6 Aug. 2025
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Feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or just out of whack?—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Douse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/douse. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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