souse 1 of 2

noun

Definition of sousenext
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

souse

2 of 2

verb

ˈsau̇s How to pronounce souse (audio)
1
as in to wet
to make wet a passing car barreled through the puddle and soused us good

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to dip
to sink or push (something) briefly into or as if into a liquid repeatedly soused the tools in the tub to get the dirt off

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to soak
to wet thoroughly with liquid firefighters soused the neighboring houses so that they wouldn't catch fire as well

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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 souse
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 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
Verb
At the reception, everyone sat at tables named for Italian directors and feasted on dishes like linguine with baby squid and soused trout by chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo. — Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026 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
  1. alcoholic
  2. wet
  3. dip
  4. soak
  5. drown
  6. duck
  7. drench
  8. wash
Noun
  • The answers to these questions are very important to our community of addicts and alcoholics, both in and out of recovery.
    — David Manheim, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Dad is an abusive alcoholic, prone to berating and even assaulting his daughter in front of guests, of which Vangelio is currently the only one.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of alcoholic
Verb
  • Crumble up and wet a small piece, then gently rub it over spots and stains.
    — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 13 Sep. 2026
  • Havenith said deliberately wetting clothing can provide evaporative cooling, including for older adults who may not sweat as effectively.
    — Aya Diab, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of wet
Verb
  • On a senior-laden team with high expectations last season, there was no time for a sophomore like him to dip his feet into the pool to test the water at the varsity level.
    — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The Orlane, an A-line midi that also comes in black, is lined and made from 100% wool—wear it with knee-high boots to keep warm as the temperatures dip.
    — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of dip
Verb
  • Establishing the run — and stopping it — could decide the winner on a playing surface soaked from rain during the days leading up to UF’s homecoming.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Last winter destroyed thousands of tents in Gaza, soaking clothes, mattresses, and bedding, even as Save the Children reported that Israel was blocking critical aid such as tent poles, winter clothes, and blankets.
    — Mosab Abu Toha, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of soak
Verb
  • Workers and employers are drowning in their health insurance premiums.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
  • And three, sometimes four, of those many waking hours are spent in the car — bouncing from home to school to her second or third job and home again — with music at full blast to drown out the babble of anxiety, most of it financial.
    — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of drown
Verb
  • During her October 2025 testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Pam Bondi repeatedly ducked questions on everything from the Epstein files to the decision to prosecute former FBI director James Comey.
    — David Wippman, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Malick Yalcouye uses his space just outside the box not to shoot but to draw Pedro Neto and Hato out before slipping a pass through to Gross, who has ducked in behind Palmer.
    — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of duck
Verb
  • Isaias’ bands could drench Florida’s Panhandle and Big Bend with as much as 15 inches of rain, the National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory.
    — Robin Webb, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
  • But so far, only five changes have been made for original Week 8 games in the Orlando area — despite heavy rain that has drenched fields.
    — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of drench
Verb
  • How many Japanese women wash their face and hands in the morning with coconut soap?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Anyone who comes into contact with the bait’s liquid vaccine should thoroughly wash their hands using soap and water, then call the phone number listed on the bait or their local health department for further instructions and referral.
    — Eva Flowe October 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of wash

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Cite this Entry

“Souse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/souse. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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