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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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of arousing
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
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
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Technologist Steve Mann used a wearable camera to post his life online way back in 1994, while the idea for video game streamer Twitch was born from cofounder Justin Kan live-broadcasting his every waking moment over an eight-month-period starting in 2007.—
Iain Martin,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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Ford portrays a ruthless, amoral lawyer, who is shot by Leguizamo’s robber, and, after waking from a coma with amnesia, transforms into a more compassionate human being.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Gallery hoppers will also find design showcases at the Museu del Disseny at Glòries and thought-provoking contemporary exhibitions at MACBA (The Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona).—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
3 Sep. 2025
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Like most of McElwee’s films, including Sherman’s March itself, this one juxtaposes two seemingly unrelated things in surprising and thought-provoking ways.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Down 7-6, FAMU quarterback RJ Johnson III hit Jalen Rogers for a 26-yard grab, awakening the once silent Rattler crowd.—
Jayden Gonzalez,
Miami Herald,
31 Aug. 2025
-
Last week’s awakening Aquarius Full Moon likely exposed broken systems and illuminated long-standing imbalances.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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As a practical matter, California making this move will only further inflame the gerrymandering problem, encouraging a further spiral of gerrymandering offsetting Democratic gains in other states.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
7 Sep. 2025
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Walking tours are also gaining prominence, minimizing car use and encouraging a deeper connection with the city.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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After increasing her anti-seizure medication one more time, staff noticed Ginger becoming a calmer, happier, more social cat who was increasingly able to handle more and more stimulating situations and interactions.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
31 Aug. 2025
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However, matcha’s high levels of L-theanine, a calming amino acid, help balance caffeine’s stimulating effects.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Hill and Giler skillfully avoid virtually every sports movie cliché while still delivering the genre’s rousing satisfactions — this is a spectacularly fun movie in spite of its often grim subject matter.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
1 Sep. 2025
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His first season in Columbus after transferring from Alabama was a rousing success as the safety was a unanimous first-team All-American for the national champion Buckeyes.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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That said, there are far less invigorating ways to watch a good movie go off the rails than to put yourself in the hand of Schnabel.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Draining the swamp never sounded so invigorating.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Arousing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arousing. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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