as in alcoholic
a person who makes a habit of getting drunk
an old souse who lumbered home with a full bottle of gin in him every night
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to wet
to make wet
a passing car barreled through the puddle and soused us good
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to soak
to wet thoroughly with liquid
firefighters soused the neighboring houses so that they wouldn't catch fire as well
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of souse
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Mars in your sign only happens every two years, souse this time wisely.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 3 Aug. 2025
For another Grand Turk specialty, chicken souse served with journey (called johnnycake on other Caribbean islands), Been suggests the deli at the Graceway Grand Turk or the Spot at the JAGS McCartney Airport, which serves the dish on Saturdays.
—Laura Begley Bloom, AFAR Media, 10 Mar. 2025
Taste traditional home cooking If fish is for Friday, the traditional Bajan dish of pudding and souse is the staple of Saturday.
—Patrick Scott, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
The meat in souse is first tenderized through boiling and then marinated in lime, cucumbers, peppers and seasonings to pickled perfection.
—Essence, 25 Nov. 2024
Guests were treated to local specialties like fresh conch salad, crack conch fritters, curry goat, chicken souse and more, with a side of carnival vibes and traditional music and dance performances.
—Claudia Alarcón, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
While assembling these souse and bakes, the complex history of the Caribbean comes into full view, as does the resilience of Grenadians who have turned the foods of their oppression such as saltfish into profoundly beautiful, delicious dishes.
—Lelani Lewis, Saveur, 29 Feb. 2024
The caterers served roti and jerk and pelau and souse.
—Victoria Brown, Harper's BAZAAR, 19 Feb. 2021
Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 3 Aug. 2025
The party scenes are tawdry, with flappers frenetically jiggling, their underwear peeking out and soused guests making spectacles of themselves.
—Danielle Teller, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
The athletes were unwinding in the locker room when Coach Mark Few and his assistants charged in and began sousing them with ice-cold water.
—Andrew Keh, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2023
And then there’s the soy sauce that gets soused over everything to improve bad food in a cheap restaurant.
—Maggie Hiufu Wong, CNN, 5 Mar. 2023
Noun
Both actors were the sons of souses (Dick Hopkins, on retiring from the baking trade, opened a pub), and the stuff was in their bloodstream.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Mars in your sign only happens every two years, souse this time wisely.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 3 Aug. 2025
For another Grand Turk specialty, chicken souse served with journey (called johnnycake on other Caribbean islands), Been suggests the deli at the Graceway Grand Turk or the Spot at the JAGS McCartney Airport, which serves the dish on Saturdays.
—Laura Begley Bloom, AFAR Media, 10 Mar. 2025
Taste traditional home cooking If fish is for Friday, the traditional Bajan dish of pudding and souse is the staple of Saturday.
—Patrick Scott, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
The meat in souse is first tenderized through boiling and then marinated in lime, cucumbers, peppers and seasonings to pickled perfection.
—Essence, 25 Nov. 2024
Guests were treated to local specialties like fresh conch salad, crack conch fritters, curry goat, chicken souse and more, with a side of carnival vibes and traditional music and dance performances.
—Claudia Alarcón, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
While assembling these souse and bakes, the complex history of the Caribbean comes into full view, as does the resilience of Grenadians who have turned the foods of their oppression such as saltfish into profoundly beautiful, delicious dishes.
—Lelani Lewis, Saveur, 29 Feb. 2024
The caterers served roti and jerk and pelau and souse.
—Victoria Brown, Harper's BAZAAR, 19 Feb. 2021
Verb
Mars in your sign only happens every two years, souse this time wisely.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 3 Aug. 2025
The party scenes are tawdry, with flappers frenetically jiggling, their underwear peeking out and soused guests making spectacles of themselves.
—Danielle Teller, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
The athletes were unwinding in the locker room when Coach Mark Few and his assistants charged in and began sousing them with ice-cold water.
—Andrew Keh, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2023
And then there’s the soy sauce that gets soused over everything to improve bad food in a cheap restaurant.
—Maggie Hiufu Wong, CNN, 5 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for souse
Noun
-
Dinner is a three-course meal, accompanied by one complimentary alcoholic beverage, with additional menu options available.—
Abby Price,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Mar. 2026
-
AlAnon is a support group for family and friends of alcoholics/addicts.—
Ramona Sentinel,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Space Leylands 8 to 10 feet apart to control these problems and avoid wetting the foliage.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Do not over-wet the wood, which can cause warping and damage to the finish.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Flush the pests away with a strong stream of water, followed by a damp cloth or a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2026
-
According to Labor Department data, the pace of growth in fiscal year 2025 dipped slightly from the year before.—
Andrea Hsu,
NPR,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This one starts out as the first one ends, with a bruised and blood-soaked Grace sitting on the stone steps of a burning and exploding Connecticut mansion, trying to light a cigarette.—
Jada Yuan,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2026
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Disinfect pruners and loppers by soaking them in a mixture of 1 part bleach and 9 parts water for 30 minutes, or spray the blades with rubbing alcohol.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Elevated surf also frequently results in strong rip currents which can drag people away from the shore and possibly result in drowning.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
16 Mar. 2026
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Joshua Duckett was three years old when his father was sent to Florida’s Death Row, convicted of raping, choking and drowning a fifth-grade girl while on duty as a police officer for the small rural town of Mascotte in Lake County.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Selling Garland was less about his abilities as an individual contributor and less about ducking his no-move clause, which kicks in on July 1, and more about Vancouver leaning into leaguewide interest in Garland and cleaning up its books overall with an eye toward long-term planning.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Post videos of catching them ducking in Statehouse hallways.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
At night, headlights drench the world in front of you in light.—
Andrew P. Collins,
The Drive,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Thies likes to use it for a garage door color, to drench a moody space like a powder bath or masculine study, or as a stunning contrast with brass.—
Lauren Jones,
Southern Living,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
All produce, even organic, should be washed before peeling so dirt and bacteria aren’t transferred from a knife onto the fruit or vegetable.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
-
On’s SenseTec Studio leggings come in a mix of neutrals (black and navy) and pastels (washed pink, mint green, dusty mauve, and a wispy blue that’s soon to launch).—
Talia Abbas,
Vogue,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Souse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/souse. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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