Synonyms of arouse

arouse

verb

ə-ˈrau̇z 

1

as in to awaken

to cause to stop sleeping

the rooster's crow aroused me from my deep sleep

Synonyms & Similar Words

• awaken
• wake
• rouse
• awake
• waken
• knock up
• provoke
• excite
• stimulate
• stir
• raise
• revive
• reawaken
• rout
• disturb
• roust
• bestir
• agitate
• rewake

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lull
• hypnotize
• mesmerize

2

as in to awake

to cease to be asleep

set the alarm so we would arouse at 5:00 a.m.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• awake
• wake
• awaken
• rouse
• waken
• rise
• watch
• arise
• roll out
• revive
• reawaken
• stir
• turn out
• get up
• uprise
• rewake
• shift

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• drop off
• sleep
• rest
• nod
• slumber
• doze
• turn in
• bed (down)
• snooze
• retire
• nap
• couch
• sleep in
• conk (off or out)
• flop
• lie up
• doss (down)
• catnap
• kip (down)
• sack out
• oversleep

3

as in to provoke

to rouse to strong feeling or action

the court's controversial decision aroused many to protest and to lobby the legislature for a constitutional amendment

Synonyms & Similar Words

• provoke
• encourage
• stimulate
• inspire
• excite
• stir
• incite
• motivate
• spark
• induce
• instigate
• pique
• motive
• move
• fire (up)
• rev (up)
• trigger
• impassion
• drive
• ignite
• inflame
• anger
• galvanize
• activate
• energize
• kindle
• quicken
• foment
• bother
• animate
• build a fire under
• set off
• vitalize
• enrage
• key (up)
• fan
• annoy
• irritate
• aggravate
• ferment
• abet
• exasperate
• raise
• upset
• whip (up)
• pump up
• tease
• taunt
• vex
• get
• jeer
• madden
• gall

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• calm
• soothe
• subdue
• appease
• placate
• tranquilize
• pacify
• mollify

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of arouse

Overview The emergence of teleSUR has aroused significant interest due to its uniqueness of being the first regional television channel purely financed by more than three Latin American states. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026

There may be many spouses out there who are aroused by mother-in-law cosplay. — John Hodgman, New York Times, 22 May 2026

Bell is a revelation as the nebbish, envious and conflictedly aroused Niall — a desperate man hiding from others and himself. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026

Payment processors aren’t idiots, and a huge number of new charges was likely to arouse suspicion. — Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 13 Apr. 2026