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
As his health dwindled, Proust took a particular interest in the case of an Irish revolutionary that aroused much public sympathy in France and elsewhere during the War of Independence.
—
Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
This coming game has aroused a great deal of interest throughout the state, and many will go to Athens to witness the event and wear the colors of their favorite team.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Research shows that when partners are physiologically aroused due to emotional overwhelm per minute during conflict, problem solving and empathy decline sharply.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Algorithms tend to prioritize emotionally arousing content, particularly anger, anxiety and outrage.
—Robin Pickering, The Conversation, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arouse
Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
This coming game has aroused a great deal of interest throughout the state, and many will go to Athens to witness the event and wear the colors of their favorite team.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Research shows that when partners are physiologically aroused due to emotional overwhelm per minute during conflict, problem solving and empathy decline sharply.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Algorithms tend to prioritize emotionally arousing content, particularly anger, anxiety and outrage.
—Robin Pickering, The Conversation, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arouse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arouse
Verb
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Through art, repetition becomes revelation — and revelation becomes awakening.—
Corky Carroll,
Oc Register,
28 Feb. 2026
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As Stravinsky’s puppets awaken to human emotion, the score weaves seamlessly through corresponding tracks from DAMN.—
Cincinnati Enquirer,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Iranians awoke Sunday for the first time in decades without Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as their supreme leader after he was killed in US-Israeli strikes, a profound shift in the nation’s history.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
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Americans awoke Saturday morning to the news that the United States and Israel had launched a series of strikes against Iran.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When not in the newsroom, Munis is often out on the streets with his camera, capturing the perfect portrait or settling in to watch a thought-provoking film.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Mar. 2026
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Intelligent systems should provoke thinking rather than replace it.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The sci-fi thriller follows junior high teacher Ryland Grace (played by Ryan Gosling), who wakes from a coma alone on a spaceship.—
Brittany Anas,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Feb. 2026
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Another theory is that lucid dreams might be too much like waking consciousness to help with solving problems.—
Veronique Greenwood,
Time,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Perhaps no wonder then that, at the beginning of the online press conference unveiling the 2025 results, Puma executives played all those attending a rousing video clip, especially to address their new strategy.—
Cathrin Schaer,
Footwear News,
26 Feb. 2026
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His alternate strategy, buying a different company to confuse auditors, doesn’t work, despite giving a rousing speech about it.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Paramount’s pressure campaign had been relentless, first winning over theater owners, who expressed alarm over Netflix’s business model that encourages consumers to watch movies in their homes.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
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The difficulty is that their price tags do not encourage patience from supporters.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Broccoli, cauliflower, artichoke, endive, dandelion, cabbage, and chicory contain bitter compounds that stimulate bile production, which supports fat digestion, waste elimination, and hormonal balance—indirectly helping manage acid load.—
Mélanie Defouilloy,
Vogue,
24 Feb. 2026
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Part your hair in sections and dispense the product along the scalp, then massage it in for 30 to 60 seconds to help boost absorption and stimulate circulation.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arouse. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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