DOWSES Synonyms: 205 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

douses

3 of 3

verb (2)

variants also dowses

present tense third-person singular of douse

as in extinguishes

to cause to cease burning douse the campfire before leaving in the morning

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in drowns

to make wet the heavy rains thoroughly doused the tourists strolling the town streets

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 douses

Verb

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 Outside, the rain douses the flames at the cooperage, but the situation still seems a bit explosive. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for douses

Noun

Guevera also reportedly came to blows with Eddie Kingston in 2022, leading to Kingston’s suspension.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Cammisano’s conviction was one of the last major blows against the Kansas City Mafia, with only one major conviction since — when two were convicted in 2013 of burning down the Hereford House in an insurance scheme.

— Jack Harvel August 17, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of blows

Verb

Juicing cherries and plums removes most or all of their fiber, making whole fruits a better option for supporting cardiovascular health.

— Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 17 Aug. 2026
And choosing a washer with a higher spin speed (up to about 1,000 RPM) removes more water before drying, which shortens air-dry time significantly.

— Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of removes

Verb

Engagement between warring parties rarely extinguishes mistrust.

— Matt Waldman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026
Video on social media shows flames outside the building – and someone tossing something into the flames, leading to what appears to be fireworks going off – before another person extinguishes the fire.

— Brynn Gingras, CNN Money, 20 July 2026

Definition of extinguishes

Verb

James eventually drowns, leaving Sara and Max to continue alone.

— Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 29 July 2026
Most of the peril comes with dangerous ship-wrecking moments, including one that implies the death of Moana's relative, while our heroine herself almost drowns on her first voyage from land.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 July 2026

Definition of drowns

Verb

Come for a lingering lunch beneath the trees or an early dinner as the sun dips into the sea—the setting is every bit as memorable as the food.

— Monica Mendal, Vogue, 10 Aug. 2026
The route then dips down into Italy, through the port town of Genoa, and along the blue shores of the Ligurian coast to its terminus in Portofino.

— Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of dips

Noun

Pro wrestling is often viewed as a fake form of fighting, but the flips, jumps and landings are very real — slaps and kicks landed on reddening skin echo throughout SPW’s venues.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026
Devers petulantly left the field, avoided handshakes and butt slaps in the dugout, and retreated to the clubhouse.

— Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

Definition of slaps

Verb

As the identity of the culprit becomes the talk of the school, Cartman immerses himself in 9/11 conspiracy theories, believing that the terrorist attack was actually an inside job staged by the Bush administration.

— Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026
Billie Eilish and James Cameron team up for a movie that immerses the audience in her performances while also featuring enlightening conversations between two artistic icons about the magic behind the spectacle.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of immerses

Browse Nearby Words

doused

douses

dousing

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Douses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/douses. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of douses

noun

verb (1)

verb (2)

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on douses

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

august

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes