variants
also dowsed
as in dripping
containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water
shook the water out of her thoroughly doused hair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in removed
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 dowsed
1
as in extinguished
to cause to cease burning
douse the campfire before leaving in the morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in drowned
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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of doused
Stephen Conroy, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026
In the fourth inning, two protesters came on the field, spread the flag on the left-center field grass and doused it with lighter fluid, attempting to set it ablaze.
—Michael Huntley, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
Ask a local Grab a plastic cup of fresh fruit doused in Tajín and chamoy at Lake Hollywood Park on your way down.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
Reza Pahlavi, the crown prince of Iran and opposition leader against the Islamic Republic, was doused with red liquid by a protester following a press conference in Berlin.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 23 Apr. 2026
The pair stabbed him in the back with an unidentified sharp object and doused him in pepper spray, before punching and kicking him in the face, police said.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 21 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
Guzman reportedly doused her father in a flammable liquid and cut him with a knife before fleeing the home.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Oh My Burger in the Coachella Courtyard, with thick single or double smashburgers generously doused in a spicy special sauce with pickles and melted cheese on a croissant bun.
—Senior Food Editor, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
For the most optimistic of Bruins fans, even their hopes were doused when Beck Malenstyn scored on a deflection early in the third, followed up quickly by a Tuch goal, both goals coming off turnovers.
—Stephen Conroy, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026
In the fourth inning, two protesters came on the field, spread the flag on the left-center field grass and doused it with lighter fluid, attempting to set it ablaze.
—Michael Huntley, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
Ask a local Grab a plastic cup of fresh fruit doused in Tajín and chamoy at Lake Hollywood Park on your way down.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
Reza Pahlavi, the crown prince of Iran and opposition leader against the Islamic Republic, was doused with red liquid by a protester following a press conference in Berlin.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 23 Apr. 2026
The pair stabbed him in the back with an unidentified sharp object and doused him in pepper spray, before punching and kicking him in the face, police said.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 21 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
Guzman reportedly doused her father in a flammable liquid and cut him with a knife before fleeing the home.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Oh My Burger in the Coachella Courtyard, with thick single or double smashburgers generously doused in a spicy special sauce with pickles and melted cheese on a croissant bun.
—Senior Food Editor, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doused
Adjective
-
First, in your home, be sure to repair toilets or sinks that keep running, dripping, or leaking.—
Ashley Portillo,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
It’s called ‘Spiral’ and it’s set in 1980s Ireland and dripping in folklore, repression and the strangeness of the Irish countryside.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
An especially visually striking debut, Mosquitoes exists in a saturated hyperreality that is consummately engrossing, and announces the Bertani sisters as formidable portraitists of girlhood cast against the backdrop of an alternately beautiful and oppressive world.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
-
As battlefields become ever more saturated with drones and skilled FPV pilots, helicopter crews will need to assume drones could come for them from any angle at any time.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Each pre-soaked pad is infused with Korean skin care actives that support elasticity, hydration, and an even-looking complexion, alongside a moisturizing cream powered by NAD+ and multilayer hyaluronic acid for firmer, more radiant-looking skin.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The most soaked area of the region during the storm was the Central Coast, where about 3½ inches of rain fell at Scotts Creek and Ben Lomond in the Santa Cruz Mountains beginning Monday, the weather service said.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Since the vegetables are pre-washed, chopped, and handled more during processing, there is a higher risk of contamination.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Many people rely on pre-washed salad mix for its convenience.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Buttonbush grows in full sun to partial shade and can thrive in wet, flooded conditions.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
28 Apr. 2026
-
When coming to a flooded road, turn around and head back.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Rain chances sit around 40%, meaning not all areas will see wet weather, but residents are advised to keep an umbrella handy.—
Lissette Gonzalez,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
However, the high moisture content is good for weakened kidneys, and cats tend to reject wet food less often than dry food.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
When TikTok virality and playlist automation saturate listeners’ attention, artistic sameness threatens to rule the day—but independent artists on their own unique paths are still with us.—
Jenn Pelly,
Time,
7 June 2025
-
Rain could aid firefighting efforts and saturate dry fuels, reducing their risk of igniting in the future.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Doused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doused. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
