aroused 1 of 2

adjective

1
as in roused

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2
as in excited

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aroused

2 of 2

verb

past tense of arouse
1
as in woke
to cause to stop sleeping the rooster's crow aroused me from my deep sleep

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2
as in awoke
to cease to be asleep set the alarm so we would arouse at 5:00 a.m.

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3
as in provoked
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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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 aroused
Verb
The song was inspired by his boyfriend, who, when aroused, came over his head. — Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026 As virality goes, this is not a big number, but the passion that the account has aroused dwarfs its reach. — David Kamp, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 Overview The emergence of teleSUR has aroused significant interest due to its uniqueness of being the first regional television channel purely financed by more than three Latin American states. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026 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 This aroused suspicion and eventually led to searches of Kamnik’s phone, computer, and external hard drive, which revealed a massive trove of illicit material. — Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 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 There, the tortoise became visibly aroused seeing another tortoise. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026 When a roadster with a rumble seat came out of the fire road and turned west toward Clam Lake, the wardens’ suspicions were aroused. — Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aroused
  1. awakened
  2. excited
  3. woke
  4. awoke
  5. provoked
  6. horny
  7. roused
  8. encouraged
Adjective
  • Angine desperately returns to the store, again and again, to get her fix from Malaise, her face reddening from blood just below the surface, a canvas of her awakened desire.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2025
Definition of awakened
Adjective
  • This is because patients are increasingly excited to use wearables and other devices to gather more information and metrics regarding their own health.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • These very same donors, Eustis said, are the ones who feel most excited to be sitting among the citizenry in Central Park, watching the beauty of public art unfold in a joyous communal atmosphere.
    — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of excited
Verb
  • Birdie cried and slept and cried, then woke to an oily splotch on the pillowcase.
    — Rachel Yoder, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Something about that moment woke the offense up as Jeremy Payne rushed in for a touchdown a few plays later.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026
Definition of woke
Verb
  • Determined to make the most of our last day, Karissa and I awoke early and split from our friends to take a 30-minute train ride to North Berwick.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 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 awoke
Verb
  • But this latest barrage is both broader and more intense, largely because Ukraine’s recent successes, particularly inside Russia, have provoked Putin to try to reclaim battlefield momentum.
    — Ian Bremmer, Time, 31 July 2026
  • That bitter end came in extra time at the 2006 World Cup final, when Zidane, who had already said the game would be his last as a player at age 34, was provoked into headbutting opponent Marco Materazzi and got sent off.
    — Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 28 July 2026
Definition of provoked
Adjective
  • White's bad-boy heartthrob status has given way to many horny memes, as well as curiosity about his love life.
    — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 25 June 2026
  • Her music owned up to being horny, garish, and superficial, but could scan as thin or cheap when held up to other kinds of ethical or political scrutiny.
    — Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 2 June 2026
Definition of horny
Verb
  • The Argentina fans roused themselves, whirling their shirts above their heads.
    — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
  • As the fires spread, roughly 2,900 people — many roused from sleep — were told to evacuate or warned to prepare to flee.
    — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026
Definition of roused
Verb
  • More than 48 hours later, the team hasn’t released any MRI results and Bader has declined to provide public comments, despite being encouraged by the club to talk to reporters or make a statement.
    — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 31 July 2026
  • Cruz and Bardem have always encouraged their children’s creative pursuits.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of encouraged

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Cite this Entry

“Aroused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aroused. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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