1
as in to awaken
to cause to stop sleeping
the rooster's crow aroused me from my deep sleep
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of arouse
And each movement aroused an urge to move in the woman lying above, as if an avalanche of imperceptible but palpable vibrations had been triggered.
—
Literary Hub, 7 Apr. 2026
There, the tortoise became visibly aroused seeing another tortoise.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
The gobbling box will often arouse an old tom that nothing else can stir.
—Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2026
The harder a person tries to force sleep, the more aroused the brain becomes, the more elusive sleep becomes.
—Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arouse
Literary Hub, 7 Apr. 2026
There, the tortoise became visibly aroused seeing another tortoise.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
The gobbling box will often arouse an old tom that nothing else can stir.
—Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2026
The harder a person tries to force sleep, the more aroused the brain becomes, the more elusive sleep becomes.
—Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arouse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arouse
Verb
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Daniela López stars in the film as Julia, an introverted music student whose curiosity and passion for protest is awakened amid a growing feminist movement on her university campus, and with #MeToo as a backdrop.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
15 June 2026
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The Phillies’ lineup, slow to awaken this season, has relied heavily on Marsh alongside Harper and Schwarber.—
Charlotte Varnes,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Verb
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According to initial police reports, a 55-year-old man had been sleeping but awoke to noise coming from outside his home.—
Harry Harris,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
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Newlywed wife Jesni Fiji, knocked out from the tragic crash and reportedly surviving with no broken bones and just cuts and bruises, awoke Saturday morning in shock and horror over what surrounded her, including her new husband Dave Fiji's body, the groom's father told Atlanta News First (ANF).—
Eric Mack,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Chris Young’s Beyond Earth column explores the intersection of space technology and policy, providing thought-provoking commentary on the latest advancements and regulatory developments in the sector.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
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If these quasi-mythical creatures provoked unease, at least among outsiders, their cheese did the opposite.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Williams then moved Anthony to her bed and threw water at him, waking him only for a brief moment.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
11 Dec. 2025
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Reading wakes us up to love, culture, grief, war, a range of possibilities too vast to name, and also to great discomfort.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
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David Hudson, a free speech attorney and professor at Belmont University Law School serving as Detwiler's co-counsel with attorneys Joseph Fuson and Worrick Robinson, delivered a rousing argument on Detwiler’s behalf.—
Evan Mealins,
Nashville Tennessean,
8 Dec. 2025
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In 24 episodes, the series toggled effortlessly between sci-fi, action, and thriller, delivering a rousing message about the effort required to build a community and wage a rebellion while still indulging in the pew-pew laser-gunning Star Wars stuff that hardcore franchise fans want.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Mbappe also told the New York Times he’d been encouraged to stay in Paris by Emmanuel Macron, the French president.—
Tom Burrows,
New York Times,
12 Dec. 2025
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Parents of at least two teenage boys who died by suicide have sued AI developers in ongoing legal disputes, saying their chatbots encouraged their sons to die.—
Kevin Collier,
NBC news,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Performance benefits often persist even in habitual users, even if the stimulating feel-good buzz fades.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
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For jobs in which automation doesn’t stimulate more demand, the risk of replacement is higher.—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arouse. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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