souse 1 of 2

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

souse

2 of 2

verb

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 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
  • And having well and truly fallen off the wagon, the recovering alcoholic arrives at one particular murder scene in the full messy throes of withdrawal.
    Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2026
  • AlAnon is a support group for family and friends of alcoholics/addicts.
    Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Lightly wet a microfiber cloth with warm water, being careful not to over-soak it.
    Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 15 Mar. 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, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Though some celebs have taken the silent route, there are also plenty of A-listers who have no problem dipping their toes in the political pool and the potential criticism that might follow, such as Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish, who slammed ICE at the 2026 Grammys.
    Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026
  • This month, water temps were in the mid-to-upper 60s, at a time when the thermometer typically dips to the 50s.
    Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Other highlights include a library gallery, a TV room, a wine cellar, and an exercise space, plus a posh primary suite holding an office, a private terrace, and a luxe bath showcased by a freestanding gray oval soaking tub.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Give it a quick shake, then either soak a cotton pad or pour a little into your palms and press it gently into your skin.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The Project’s participants were instructed to fight one another and endure simulated drowning, among other humiliations and discomforts, while remaining awake for most of three days.
    Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Authorities alleged Goldberg followed her and tried to drown her before a bystander intervened.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Was this the kind of assignment that more established runners ever tried to duck?
    Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Investors ducking for cover in the rocky market are turning to low volatility funds.
    Michelle Fox, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Splashdown sends boats careening into a wall of water that drenches riders and onlookers alike, welcome relief in triple-digit heat.
    Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 25 Mar. 2026
  • And Jesse Leasure, who was drenched in pepper spray and felt like his skin was on fire and as though someone had rubbed his eyeballs with sandpaper.
    Olivia George, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Raw meat was frozen in trash bags and an employee washed dishes without rinsing them.
    Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The manager ordered more sanitizer and bleach during the inspection, and the dishware was corrected to be washed manually until the dishwasher has more sanitizer.
    Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 1 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Souse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/souse. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster