Synonyms of arousing

arousing 1 of 2

adjective

as in energizing

Related Words

• energizing
• stimulating
• waking
• rousing
• invigorating
• awakening
• wakening
• stimulant
• refreshing
• reviving
• stimulative
• bracing
• stimulatory
• restorative

Dissimilar Words

• hypnotic
• narcotic
• sleepy
• drowsy
• opiate
• somnolent
• soporific
• sedative
• slumberous
• tranquilizing
• soothing
• settling
• relaxant
• comforting
• relaxing
• calming
• somniferous
• restful
• depressant
• quieting
• pacifying
• lulling

arousing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of arouse

1

as in waking

to cause to stop sleeping

the rooster's crow aroused me from my deep sleep

Synonyms & Similar Words

• waking
• awakening
• awaking
• rousing
• wakening
• knocking up
• provoking
• stimulating
• stirring
• raising
• disturbing
• exciting
• reviving
• reawakening
• routing
• rousting
• agitating
• bestirring
• rewaking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lulling
• mesmerizing
• hypnotizing

2

as in awaking

to cease to be asleep

set the alarm so we would arouse at 5:00 a.m.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• awaking
• waking
• awakening
• rousing
• wakening
• rising
• watching
• uprising
• arising
• rolling out
• reawakening
• stirring
• reviving
• getting up
• turning out
• rewaking
• shifting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sleeping
• resting
• slumbering
• dozing
• dropping off
• nodding
• napping
• snoozing
• retiring
• bedding (down)
• turning in
• couching
• flopping
• sleeping in
• catnapping
• conking (off or out)
• dossing (down)
• lying up
• kipping (down)
• sacking out
• oversleeping

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

• provoking
• encouraging
• stimulating
• stirring
• inspiring
• exciting
• inciting
• sparking
• motivating
• moving
• inducing
• instigating
• triggering
• firing (up)
• driving
• piquing
• revving (up)
• igniting
• inflaming
• energizing
• impassioning
• motiving
• activating
• galvanizing
• angering
• kindling
• fanning
• animating
• vitalizing
• building a fire under
• enraging
• fomenting
• quickening
• bothering
• teasing
• upsetting
• setting off
• abetting
• taunting
• fermenting
• maddening
• keying (up)
• irritating
• aggravating
• whipping (up)
• exasperating
• raising
• jeering
• annoying
• pumping up
• getting
• vexing
• galling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• soothing
• calming
• subduing
• tranquilizing
• appeasing
• placating
• pacifying
• mollifying

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of arousing

Adjective

The most arousing thing to a woman is a man who’s aroused by her. — Rachel Handler, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026

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

Verb

Now, Elizabeth and Michael must find a way to send her back in time, while not arousing the suspicion of Michael’s mother and sister during their family vacation. — Rachel Labonte, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2026

Today, fiery Mars moves to the top of your chart to stay for the next six weeks, arousing your ambition as never before. — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 9 Apr. 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

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