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.
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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
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
No clear catalyst One reason the surge in oil futures trading is arousing suspicion is that no market-moving announcements were slated for Monday morning, such as government economic releases or speeches from Federal Reserve officials.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arouse
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
No clear catalyst One reason the surge in oil futures trading is arousing suspicion is that no market-moving announcements were slated for Monday morning, such as government economic releases or speeches from Federal Reserve officials.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arouse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arouse
Verb
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Each step further awakens the cacao into a fuller, more intoxicating version of itself.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
10 May 2026
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As the Western New York metropolis awakens again, people have come to realize that all that downtime helped preserve the city’s classic architecture.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Likewise the Wild awoke in Game 3 against the Avs.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
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Alaska Time would have awoken them as the north fjord wall crumbled just in front of the retreating tongue of the South Sawyer Glacier.—
Megan I. Gannon,
Scientific American,
6 May 2026
Verb
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The harshness or relentlessness of weather can turn friends to lovers, can cause others to lose their minds, can provoke travel across continents, can cancel plans, can reroute rivers, can flood civilizations, can incite both panic and delight, can wash away a life’s work, can set fire to forests.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
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Wasps are territorial creatures that can aggressively defend their nests and protect their young if provoked.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, American families are getting squeezed by high gas prices, unaffordable housing, soaring grocery bills and out-of-touch politicians who are more focused on woke ideology than on real solutions.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
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Monday night when the teen suspect and two friends woke him up and began harassing him, at one point urinating in a cup and throwing it on the victim, according to prosecutors citing surveillance footage.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Sometimes, the crowd at a nearby ballpark will issue a rousing cheer – as if congratulating you on a hike well done.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
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The 2026 club just might be the team that rouses them.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Lawyer Steve Oshins told Inside Wealth that QSBS laws and other tax proposals aimed at the wealthy encourage high earners to move to other states.—
Hayley Cuccinello,
CNBC,
8 May 2026
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This easy London broil recipe relies on a savory marinade with a small amount of baking soda to help tenderize the meat and encourage browning.—
Zaynab Issa,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Coloring helps Kathy with her dementia, calming her anxiety and helping stimulate cognition.—
Janet W. Lee,
NPR,
7 May 2026
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Lion’s mane stimulates nerve growth factor and neurogenesis, enhances memory, focus, clarity and mood, and chaga mushrooms can enhance physical performance, oxygen utilization and give an endurance boost.—
Ryan Brennan
May 6,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arouse. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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