douses 1 of 3

noun

plural of douse, British
as in blows
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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douses

2 of 3

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of douse
as in removes
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

douses

3 of 3

verb (2)

variants also dowses
present tense third-person singular of douse
1
as in extinguishes
to cause to cease burning douse the campfire before leaving in the morning

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2
as in drowns
to make wet the heavy rains thoroughly doused the tourists strolling the town streets

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dips
to sink or push (something) briefly into or as if into a liquid douse the grapes in water to remove any grit

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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 douses
Verb
Is this what happens when Tamra finally douses herself in so much melatonin before filming that her fat tongue won’t move in her mouth? — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026 In this recipe, orange juice also douses the bran before and after baking. — The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026 The formula is enriched with Japanese red camellia oil, a lightweight, fast-absorbing ingredient that douses the hair in antioxidants. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for douses
  1. blows
  2. removes
  3. extinguishes
  4. drowns
  5. dips
  6. slaps
  7. wets
  8. immerses
Noun
  • Ditka and Ryan had an often adversarial relationship, with the two nearly coming to blows during halftime of the team's only 1985 season loss, to the Miami Dolphins.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Even with a human controlling the machine remotely, LaPenna was still trading blows with a heavy metal robot capable of putting real force behind its movements.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of blows
Verb
  • Instead of replacing merchandisers, AI removes bottlenecks and gives time and control back to brand teams.
    — Zohar Gilad, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Cash does not mean skipping the closing process Another common misunderstanding is that selling for cash removes the normal legal steps involved in transferring real estate.
    — Ascend Agency, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of removes
Verb
  • The difference is that, like early insurance companies, CTS extinguishes only the fires it is paid, including by Tensor, to put out.
    — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Engagement between warring parties rarely extinguishes mistrust.
    — Matt Waldman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of extinguishes
Verb
  • Following the ruling, Benson drowns her sorrows over cocktails with Sharpe, and, in a revealing, impeccably acted scene, airs out her grievances about her job.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Bread & Butter’s title track is the only time when things decamp to the treacly, mostly because of how Cartunez’s syrupy beat drowns out Droog’s hazy memories of 9/11 and descriptions of a side chick who looks like Ronnie from The Player’s Club.
    — Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of drowns
Verb
  • The company pays, the stock dips for a day and the executives keep their calendars.
    — Mala Ramakrishnan, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026
  • During the fall months, when Texas’ heat dips enough that spending time outdoors is finally comfortable, every corner of the state throws a party centered around great food.
    — Gabi De la Rosa, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of dips
Noun
  • These 16 slaps are lucid and adventurous, featuring random Jay Electronica warblings, DJ Quik rhythms, and a couple of surprisingly appropriate Westside Gunn vignettes.
    — Will Dukes, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The Mother was the destination, but the slaps, pineapple, goat, and countless detours made the journey worthwhile.
    — Erin Strecker, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of slaps
Verb
  • Unfortunately, that only wets the top quarter inch of soil—a feel-good move for gardeners but not for roots.
    — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 June 2026
  • Another Pearl Girl wets herself when the Eyes come for Thalia.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2026
Definition of wets
Verb
  • Centre d’Art Marcel Gagnon is a riverside accommodation that immerses guests in the works of local artists, with 100 waterfront sculptures comprising a large-scale art installation and an on-site gallery.
    — Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2026
  • In Nobody Wants This, agnostic podcaster Joanne Williams (Kristen Bell) begins an unexpected romance with Rabbi Noah Roklov (Brody), which shakes both their families as Joanne immerses herself in Noah’s culture and decides to convert to Judaism.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of immerses

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Cite this Entry

“Douses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/douses. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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