1
as in waking
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 awaking
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 provoking
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in energizing
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of arousing
Essence, 11 Sep. 2025
Squeezing lube out of a bottle until the cold goop squirts out isn't the most arousing act.
—Brenda Stolyar, WIRED, 4 Feb. 2023
Amazon Prime members can also ship items to a locker to avoid arousing suspicions when the parcel is delivered, Valentine Lent said.
—Amanda Pérez Pintado, USA TODAY, 15 Dec. 2022
That’s sort of gross, but also a strangely arousing way to describe the painful expansion of self that comes with falling in love.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2022
The supervisor also recommended performing the steps two to three hours after trying to interview members of a household to avoid arousing suspicions from higher-ups who could track where census takers had been through their IPhones.
—Mike Schneider, Anchorage Daily News, 24 Nov. 2020
Some research suggests that men around the world find a specific waist-to-hip ratio (0.7) to be most arousing.
—Ogi Ogas, Discover Magazine, 20 Sep. 2011
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Far from arousing curiosity, the movie forecloses it.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
Adding oils or a warm soak can increase sensitivity and make the experience both soothing and arousing.
—Essence, 11 Sep. 2025
Squeezing lube out of a bottle until the cold goop squirts out isn't the most arousing act.
—Brenda Stolyar, WIRED, 4 Feb. 2023
Amazon Prime members can also ship items to a locker to avoid arousing suspicions when the parcel is delivered, Valentine Lent said.
—Amanda Pérez Pintado, USA TODAY, 15 Dec. 2022
That’s sort of gross, but also a strangely arousing way to describe the painful expansion of self that comes with falling in love.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2022
The supervisor also recommended performing the steps two to three hours after trying to interview members of a household to avoid arousing suspicions from higher-ups who could track where census takers had been through their IPhones.
—Mike Schneider, Anchorage Daily News, 24 Nov. 2020
Some research suggests that men around the world find a specific waist-to-hip ratio (0.7) to be most arousing.
—Ogi Ogas, Discover Magazine, 20 Sep. 2011
Adjective
In fact, studies have found that couples who share novel and arousing activities report greater satisfaction.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Far from arousing curiosity, the movie forecloses it.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arousing
Verb
-
Use them before bed, while working, or upon waking.—
Brianna Peters,
Vogue,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The cards show your heart has been waking back up from a deep and somber slumber to finally roar more loudly than ever in July.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Tirso Ornelas’ seventh-inning grand slam triggered a late-game awaking as Triple-A El Paso beat host Sugar Land 13-2 on Wednesday.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Throughout the weekend, McIlroy and other European players sparred with fans, provoking the Irish golfer in at least one instance to yell back at the crowd, while others flashed middle fingers in response to the jeers.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
-
There was the invasion, the election deniers, and a leader provoking his audience to do something.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Elizabeth feels her senses awakening again.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The tense drama follows a successful scientist who develops a revolutionary recreational drug that works only on women, awakening a powerful sense of ecstasy and pleasure even when nothing in their circumstances has changed.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That means encouraging teams to slow down, check sender info, confirm requests through other channels and report anything that feels off.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
27 Sep. 2025
-
By encouraging tourists to visit Puerto Rico’s lauded heritage sites, Bad Bunny is uplifting narratives about the community and their power that recontextualize the island as a place for visitors from across the globe to celebrate.—
Cat Sposato,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Of course—even if students read less, and do less of their own writing, and skip class more often, and are graded on elevator pitches given to computers—college could remain a stimulating and fun experience.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
30 Sep. 2025
-
In it, Sunset has picked 10 tasting rooms (or appellations with good tasting options), from classic vineyards to producers of zero-proof beverages, that should delight everyone with their delectable offerings, innovative techniques and visually stimulating atmospheres.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In addition to a silent auction, the gala staged a rousing musical salute to Jam & Lewis — under the direction of Adam Blackstone — which featured performances by Durand Bernarr, Eric Bellinger, Tina Campbell, Johnny Gill and Estelle.—
Gail Mitchell,
Billboard,
19 Sep. 2025
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Just think of the gridiron characters who've hit the big screen over the years, giving us awesome cinematic moments in everything from screwball comedies to rousing biopics.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The optimism and creativity in London in the macro-climate is impressive and invigorating.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
23 Sep. 2025
-
In 1979, Birkin began an affair with the filmmaker Jacques Doillon, who was thirty-five to her thirty-two—an invigorating change from Gainsbourg, eighteen years her senior.—
Anahid Nersessian,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Arousing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arousing. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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