arouse

verb

ə-ˈrau̇z How to pronounce arouse (audio)
Definition of arousenext
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

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 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 Today, fiery Mars moves to the top of your chart to stay for the next six weeks, arousing your ambition as never before. — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 9 Apr. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for arouse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arouse
  1. awaken
  2. awake
  3. provoke
  4. wake
  5. rouse
  6. encourage
  7. stimulate
Verb
  • In the series premiere of Netflix’s Vladimir, Rachel Weisz awakens from troubled sleep to a cascade of texts, sighs deeply, and addresses the camera with pleading eyes.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026
  • None of these patterns are inherent strengths or weaknesses; the value comes from recognizing them and being present to what is most needed in the moment, awakening leadership.
    — Catherine Bell, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of awaken
Verb
  • While preparing for a trip, he is rendered unconscious using knockout gas and awakes to find himself inside a perfect recreation of his own home, but this one is located in a mysterious settlement known as The Village.
    — William Worrall, Space.com, 15 July 2026
  • Chicago awoke two days later to find almost 18,000 buildings destroyed, much of the city leveled, 90,000 people homeless and 300-some people dead.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026
Definition of awake
Verb
  • Los Angeles County prosecutors charged Jason Melara, Taylor and Johnson not only with his murder, but also the killing of Mario Melara under the theory that his death was provoked by the armed robbery of Aguilar.
    — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • Collina said that such allegations could provoke threats against referees and their families.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 9 July 2026
Definition of provoke
Verb
  • The country is finally waking to the comedown Vance predicted.
    — Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 4 July 2026
  • And, on Friday, thousands in Australia will wake and gather, before dawn, to watch the Socceroos play Egypt in the round of thirty-two.
    — Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 1 July 2026
Definition of wake
Verb
  • Rhaenyra is at her happiest finally facing the hungry people of King’s Landing, giving a rousing speech before passing out bread and fruit and grain and other sundries to the smallfolk.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • The film culminates in the Battle of the Monongahela in 1755, where Washington steps up and delivers a rousing speech to the British army despite their defeat.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of rouse
Verb
  • They are accused of encouraging dissent against the regime and were convicted of broad charges of corruption, CNN’s Isobel Yeung reports.
    — Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
  • The Overland Park exhibition invited Black artists from across the Kansas City area to present work that reflected their identities, encouraging each artist to define themselves on their own terms.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026
Definition of encourage
Verb
  • The formula includes collagen-stimulating copper peptides and Matrixyl 3000 (a gentle retinol alternative) to quite-literally make the skin age in reverse.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 4 July 2026
  • The process involved suctioning the newborn's airway and stimulating him.
    — Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of stimulate

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Cite this Entry

“Arouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arouse. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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