as in energizing
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1
as in waking
to cause to stop sleeping
the rooster's crow aroused me from my deep sleep
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in awaking
to cease to be asleep
set the alarm so we would arouse at 5:00 a.m.
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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
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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
Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
Algorithms tend to prioritize emotionally arousing content, particularly anger, anxiety and outrage.
—Robin Pickering, The Conversation, 21 Jan. 2026
Now, Elizabeth and Michael must find a way to send her back to her time, while not arousing the suspicion of Michael’s mother and sister during their family vacation.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 22 Dec. 2025
But instead of arousing genuine interest, Davuluri’s tweet set off some harsh feedback from at least some users put off by AI.
—PC Magazine, 19 Nov. 2025
Mike Evans could return, and the Johnsons (Kameron and Tez) pack arousing upside, but Otton is likely to earn the biggest target spike.
—Brad Evans, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
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
Adjective
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
Verb
To avoid arousing suspicion, the mission was primarily carried out by ground forces with limited air support from helicopters, Trevilla said.
—Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
Algorithms tend to prioritize emotionally arousing content, particularly anger, anxiety and outrage.
—Robin Pickering, The Conversation, 21 Jan. 2026
Now, Elizabeth and Michael must find a way to send her back to her time, while not arousing the suspicion of Michael’s mother and sister during their family vacation.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 22 Dec. 2025
But instead of arousing genuine interest, Davuluri’s tweet set off some harsh feedback from at least some users put off by AI.
—PC Magazine, 19 Nov. 2025
Mike Evans could return, and the Johnsons (Kameron and Tez) pack arousing upside, but Otton is likely to earn the biggest target spike.
—Brad Evans, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
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
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Instead, members devoted every waking breath to restoring Sharia and, by doing so, heralding a new era of blind and impartial justice.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Players spend all of their waking moments in the trenches with the coaches.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In Hocus Pocus, Dani, her older brother Max (Omri Katz) and his crush Allison (Vinessa Shaw) have to save the children of Salem, Massachusetts after accidentally awaking the witch Sanderson sisters from their 300-year slumber.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
25 Oct. 2025
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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
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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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Scrubsnyc are a pair of internet trolls who livestream videos of themselves appearing to harass everyday New Yorkers, provoking outrage, and often finding themselves being thrown out of apartment buildings, bodegas and other establishments.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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American ginseng has a slightly different chemical makeup and is considered less stimulating than its Asian counterpart.—
PubSubHub User,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Despite the name, kava tea contains no actual tea leaves and doesn’t have the stimulating effect of caffeine.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
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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While there’s no evidence the bacteria are harmful to humans, awakening microbes that have lain dormant for thousands of years may sound like the plot of a sci-fi novel or movie.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The bill contains provisions encouraging local and state governments to build more housing.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Mar. 2026
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There is a lot of change happening on the home front, encouraging you to remodel parts of your dwelling.—
Lisa Stardust,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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San Jose opened its season with a rousing 3-0 win over Sporting Kansas City last weekend, featuring a pair of goals from center back Daniel Munie.—
Michael Nowels,
Mercury News,
27 Feb. 2026
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Both received a rousing ovation from the Prudential Center crowd.—
Mia Fishman,
CNN Money,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Mint and eucalyptus blends can feel especially invigorating; citrus-forward scents help cut through mental fog.—
Allison Hatfield,
Dallas Morning News,
25 Feb. 2026
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But it’s presented here with invigorating flourishes that encircle the story within specific moments in time, while also granting it a stirring dramatic transcendence.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arousing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arousing. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.
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