AROUSE Synonyms: 109 Similar and Opposite Words

arouse

verb

ə-ˈrau̇z

Definition of arouse

as in to awaken

to cause to stop sleeping the rooster's crow aroused me from my deep sleep

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to awake

to cease to be asleep set the alarm so we would arouse at 5:00 a.m.

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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 arouse In the hour-long special, taped the Skirball in New York City in March, Barone aims to shock, amuse, and arouse. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 24 June 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for arouse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for arouse

Verb

The first thing Kontras remembers after his surgery is awakening and seeing his left arm still intact.

— Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026
She was awakened in the middle of the night by her barking dog and the sound of a woman screaming in the street.

— City News Service, Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of awaken

Verb

Some of the incidents have turned violent The latest bear attack in Colorado occurred early Wednesday when a homeless man sleeping in Aspen's Rio Grande Park awoke to find a bear biting his head, according to CPW officials.

— Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
According to the department, sisters Ava, 5, and Mia, 9, awoke and saw the fire coming from their neighbors’ home.

— David Chiu, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of awake

Verb

Corben has previously clashed with Gabela and Gabela’s wife, Mariela, who have accused Corben of provoking them to get views for his content.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026
Keitel’s Feraud keeps provoking the feud; Carradine’s D’Hubert recognizes its madness but remains too bound by the same code of honor to walk away.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of provoke

Verb

For now, fans can only wonder if Game’s shots, and especially his conspicuous Drake cameo, are enough to wake Kendrick, who, for his part, has so far declined to publicly engage with the speculation surrounding his relationship to much of anything.

— Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026
London — The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s upcoming return was plastered across UK’s front pages Thursday, as Britons woke to the surprise news that the couple will move back to the country after six years in the United States.

— Max Foster, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of wake

Verb

These two exceedingly nimble keyboardists teamed for a rousing take on Polish composer Witold Lutoslawski’s intensely spirited Variations on a Theme of Paganini.

— George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
But Brown gained a step on Mitchell on Thursday and hauled in a touchdown that roused the home crowd.

— Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of rouse

Verb

While the colors blend in with the landscape and may draw your eye outside, the rooms also encourage procrastinating.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
Lee told the Queen that her husband’s candidness has encouraged many to feel more comfortable with their own cancer journeys.

— Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of encourage

Verb

Instead, some industry leaders advocate for the US government to become an ambitious early customer, stimulating domestic demand and building a resilient supply chain, mirroring China's successful strategy.

— John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Stronger trade winds help to move warm surface water away from the South American coast, which stimulates upwelling—that is, the movement of cold, dense, and nutrient-rich deep ocean water toward the surface.

— John P. Rafferty, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of stimulate

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arouse

aroused

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“Arouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arouse. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of arouse

verb

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