dousing 1 of 2

verb (1)

present participle of douse
as in removing
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

dousing

2 of 2

verb (2)

variants also dowsing
present participle of douse
1
as in extinguishing
to cause to cease burning douse the campfire before leaving in the morning

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wetting
to make wet the heavy rains thoroughly doused the tourists strolling the town streets

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dipping
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 dousing
Verb
While the fastest way to cool them is by dousing with water, this can make quite a mess on your patio. — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 4 July 2026 Video from the scene showed firefighters dousing the blaze with water as thick black smoke rose from the burning pipeline. — ABC News, 30 June 2026 This gentle shade of light pink is ideal for those who love the colors of dopamine decor, but are mindful of dousing their walls in highly pigmented hues that can make the area feel small and crowded. — The Spruce, 3 July 2026 McGill was convicted of murder after dousing a couple in gasoline and lighting them on fire in 2002. — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 14 May 2026 Firefighters have also isolated lithium-ion batteries and have hoselines dousing them. — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 20 June 2026 Although crews made strong initial progress dousing the roof with water, the leak was then discovered inside the building, and several small explosions reinvigorated the flames and smoke. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026 Fire officials have also emphasized the importance of having hoses on hand, and dousing fireworks in a bucket of water after they’ve been used, even overnight, to prevent accidental reignition. — Sacbee.com, 28 June 2026 After initially dousing the fire between the theater’s fourth and fifth floors, firefighters found additional pockets of flames between the fifth and eights floors, with the fire finally brought fully under control a little after noon, officials said. — Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dousing
  1. removing
  2. extinguishing
  3. wetting
  4. dipping
  5. drowning
  6. immersing
  7. washing
  8. flooding
Verb
  • Regular care prevents yellowing by removing oils and buildup that dull fabrics over time.
    — Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
  • Bart Jansen Trump called the court removing restrictions on political spending a victory for Republicans and free speech.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Definition of removing
Verb
  • The next phase of operations will focus on accessing and extinguishing remaining fire within more interior areas of the building.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026
  • Authorities cautioned that extinguishing the fire could take days or even weeks.
    — Iris Salem, CBS News, 20 June 2026
Definition of extinguishing
Verb
  • Joanna Shoulder received the beating as discipline for wetting her bed, according to a homicide detective’s account of his interview of the girl’s father described in an arrest warrant affidavit.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 June 2026
  • Considerations Before Getting Started Before cleaning your sidewalks, gather some basic safety equipment such as gloves and eye protection, and protect plants and grass bordering your sidewalk from bleach and cleaners by wetting them down and covering them with plastic sheeting or old towels.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 25 June 2026
Definition of wetting
Verb
  • Temperatures will have a tough time dipping below 80°, especially in Baltimore City.
    — Rachael Jay, CBS News, 30 June 2026
  • The county has faced relatively small budget shortfalls in the last couple of years and is now dipping into its reserves to the tune of $95 million.
    — Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 June 2026
Definition of dipping
Verb
  • But water also carries the potential for danger, and parents who have lost a child to drowning are begging families to use caution.
    — Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Florida, which has one of the highest childhood drowning rates in the nation, expanded a voucher program this month that puts children ages 1-7 who have autism at the front of the line for subsidized swim lessons.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 July 2026
Definition of drowning
Verb
  • Earlier this month, the company brought students from over 40 countries to San Francisco to pitch their startup ideas for a chance to win $100,000 of equity-free funding from Red Bull Ventures and $25,000 in Microsoft Azure credits, while immersing themselves in Silicon Valley.
    — Lydia T. Blanco, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
  • To soak your clothes prior to washing, fill a bucket or your bathtub with cool to warm water and add 1 cup of vinegar before immersing your clothes into the solution.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 14 June 2026
Definition of immersing
Verb
  • Some physicians recommend washing your mouth out after use by gargling and rinsing your mouth with water.
    — Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • Or keep your blowout intact when doing your makeup or washing your face thanks to these adorable terry cloth headbands.
    — Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
Definition of washing
Verb
  • News of his death – one example of the political violence roiling America in recent years – quickly went global, with graphic videos flooding social media and politicians on both sides of the aisle swiftly condemning the killing.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Bailey Allen After the fireworks ended there was a mass exodus of guests leaving the Esplanade and flooding the streets of downtown Boston.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Definition of flooding

Browse Nearby Words

douses
dousing
dove
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Cite this Entry

“Dousing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dousing. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of dousing for Spanish Speakers

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