variants
also dowse
1
as in to extinguish
to cause to cease burning
douse the campfire before leaving in the morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of douse
Naveen Dhaliwal, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
After the murders, József doused their bodies and the home with gasoline, setting the house on fire before taking his own life in the garage.
—Maddie Garfinkle, PEOPLE, 18 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
More than a day later, firefighters remained on scene to douse stubborn hotspots.
—Naveen Dhaliwal, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
After the murders, József doused their bodies and the home with gasoline, setting the house on fire before taking his own life in the garage.
—Maddie Garfinkle, PEOPLE, 18 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
-
Lakers guard Austin Reaves went through pregame warmups for the first time in three weeks before being downgraded to out 45 minutes before Game 3 tipped off on Friday, but the Houston Rockets were dealt a significant injury blow for the second time in the first-round playoff series.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Then in the fourth, the Orioles delivered the knockout blow.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Hell, everyone still thinks the Will Smith-Chris Rock Oscars slap was staged.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Jeanine Pirro, the DC US Attorney leading the probe, has also repeatedly doubled-down on her pursuit, despite a running series of mishaps and judicial slap-downs.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The story opens with a knock on the door that produces a terrified scream from a kid waiting inside.—
Elise Broach,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The major knock on him is an injury history that has kept him from finishing any of his seasons in college.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Dean was flagged for a late hit and the result was 28 yards on the play.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
-
On Saturday, Weathers also walked none, struck out four and permitted six hits over 86 pitches.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
With a lifelong love of the weight room and a good core of swipes, chops and bull rushes, Young offers a physical presence on both the interior and edge.—
Matt Moret,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Our interface makes intelligent use of swipes and gestures rather than tapping or dialing.—
David Szondy
April 25,
New Atlas,
25 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
-
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
-
If travelers have a layover, disruptions can throw an entire itinerary out of whack, experts said.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The state must pass a balanced budget, and any changes risk throwing that balance out of whack.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Douse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/douse. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
