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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Making the set attractive to the children will arouse their interest, encourage them to keep playing and push them to improve. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026 Charismatic leaders arouse and synchronize followers' emotions. — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 This Catholic genealogy helped arouse British suspicions of European integration. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 The song was inspired by his boyfriend, who, when aroused, came over his head. — Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for arouse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for arouse

Verb

As desire awakens, so does the fear that her new lover may be her husband’s killer.

— Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026
One national showdown and several sleeping giants trying to awaken highlight the Week 5 slate in Georgia high school football.

— Jack Leo, AJC.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of awaken

Verb

Back in 2018, Tarantino reportedly awoke in the middle of the night to find two burglars inside his home.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Alice gets to keep her leg, albeit with extensive scarring, and Anna does her best to forget about the sacrificial part of the pact until she is awoken one night by a noise downstairs.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of awake

Verb

At the start of the war, many economists and analysts feared that the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz would provoke an acute energy crisis and economic downturn, or worse.

— RICHARD HAASS, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2026
Tom Cruise‘s Digger is being called a very big swing of a dramatic satire that’s provoking very mixed reactions after the film’s first press screenings.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of provoke

Verb

She was woken by Lizzie after the discovery of Andrew’s body and went to get the doctor.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
Even among those who manage to go to bed at a reasonable hour, sleep quality was found to significantly affect personal health, suggesting that those who wake frequently may also have reasons for concern.

— Mike McRae September 17, New Atlas, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of wake

Verb

Other than the fact that two people getting ax-murdered didn’t rouse her from her nap, there wasn’t anything suspicious about Bridget; not that there weren’t plenty of people ready to pin the crimes on her.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
After Stan’s dad Randy gives a rousing speech about coming together as a community following Kenny’s latest demise, the scene shifts to the funeral, with the loud and proud country ballad bubbling up as the e-bike ban is announced.

— Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of rouse

Verb

While the rest of the table is encouraging growth and forgiveness, Meredith is refusing to budge, completely stonewalling this apology and completely willing to die on this hill.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
The dairy farmer agreed with a comment from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins encouraging Americans to seek out other forms of protein, including turkey, amid a rise in the cost of beef.

— Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of encourage

Verb

Direct inhibitory currents appeared in a third of cells two millimeters out, and stimulating the visual cortex had measurable effects as far as frontal motor areas.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2026
Prescription medicines that stimulate the salivary glands to make more saliva include Salagen (pilocarpine) and Evoxac (cevimeline).

— Julie Scott, Verywell Health, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of stimulate

Browse Nearby Words

arousals

arouse

aroused

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“Arouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arouse. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of arouse

verb

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