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
Relevance
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
variants
also dowse
1
as in to extinguish
to cause to cease burning
douse the campfire before leaving in the morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of douse
Penny Abeywardena, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Those twin blazes posted once-in-lifetime challenges for firefighters who often had no water due to the extreme demand to douse so many flames at one time.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 1 Feb. 2025
David Santoro, Foreign Affairs, 22 May 2025
Sandra Stermer The prosecutor argued that Linda started the fire by dousing Todd with gasoline — and his sweatpants, underwear and socks did test positive.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for douse
Noun
Kids could be engaged in competitions to spot and douse abandoned campfires with embers still burning.
—Penny Abeywardena, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Those twin blazes posted once-in-lifetime challenges for firefighters who often had no water due to the extreme demand to douse so many flames at one time.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 1 Feb. 2025
Verb
For more than five years, Chinese vessels operating in the South China Sea have repeatedly collided with Philippine ships, sometimes dousing them with water cannons and injuring personnel.
—David Santoro, Foreign Affairs, 22 May 2025
Sandra Stermer The prosecutor argued that Linda started the fire by dousing Todd with gasoline — and his sweatpants, underwear and socks did test positive.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for douse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for douse
Noun
-
If approved, the cuts would served a devastating blow to the U.N., which is already struggling as other governments also cut contributions.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2025
-
Her relationship may have been seen as the ideal outcome of inner work, so its collapse may have felt disappointing, like a blow to their healing process.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
Noun
-
Not finishing the story is a real slap in the face to all the loyal fans who did stick around.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
-
During the final House vote, Republican lawmakers approached the speaker with congratulatory handshakes and back slaps.—
John Parkinson,
ABC News,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
That’s no knock on the singing or dancing of the girls, and as a former idol herself, Kyoko Saito as Mai brings in a few performance details that are palpably drawn from a place of personal resonance.—
Josh Slater-Williams,
IndieWire,
22 May 2025
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Sven Botman is also in contention to continue in the side but is having a fresh knee knock assessed.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
Noun
-
Both the 2018 original and its sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, were box office and critical hits.—
Christopher Rudolph,
People.com,
7 June 2025
-
The Royals scored 22 runs on 37 hits in the I-70 series against the St. Louis Cardinals.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
7 June 2025
Noun
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As artificial intelligence redefines human interactions, one question persists with scientific urgency and cultural weight: What happens to the brain's romantic blueprint when intimacy is filtered through screens, swipes and simulations?—
Ximena Araya-Fischel,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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Even as more Americans tap, swipe or scan to pay, most still carry at least a little cash — and financial planners say that’s a good idea.—
Mike Winters,
CNBC,
25 May 2025
Noun
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The Cardinals have enough right-handed thump (especially with Herrera) to utilize Burleson at his strength.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
-
Literal flames surrounded the glow, both repelling and drawing you in more, followed by two loud, disorienting thumps.—
Christopher Rosa,
Glamour,
16 May 2025
Noun
-
The tacky-meter reaches new heights when Brit presents the Housewives (of course no one else got gift bags) some of her shapewear in sad cardboard boxes without a lick of tissue paper or even a measly bow.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
26 May 2025
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The cat appears pleased during the grooming session, taking the licks with closed eyes and a content expression.—
Kelli Bender,
People.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The Oilers’ pulled that goal back on a power play less than three minutes later when Perry took three whacks at the puck before getting it by Kuemper.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2025
-
He was dealt a few brutal whacks from a golf club and then viciously pummeled.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Douse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/douse. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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