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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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
Zack Sharf, Variety, 3 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
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
But then Swift reveals the full conceit of the song, which is how flattering and even arousing it is to hear about someone thinking about you constantly (even if for negative reasons).
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 3 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
-
Ames Ward, the producer who was seen on the stream waking Speed up that very morning, says the experience of bringing Speed to so many cities in little more than a month was simply incredible.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Both men are doing stuff that keeps them occupied, interests them on some level and pays the bills, but doesn’t consume their every waking thought.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
2 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
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But an interview with Trump on 60 Minutes also presents tremendous risk for a news organization that has already been the focus of the president’s ire and is now trying to maintain its credibility without provoking him again.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
2 Oct. 2025
-
This is an installment of The Nightcrawler, a weekly collection of thought-provoking articles on tech, innovation, and long-term investing by Eric Markowitz of Nightview Capital.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Pops of color are proof that the garden is awakening from a long cold snap.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Elizabeth feels her senses awakening again.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The idea behind the guide was that encouraging people to take more road trips would increase the demand for tires.—
Michael Salerno,
AZCentral.com,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Through his work, Strachan examines histories often overlooked in mainstream narratives, particularly those connected to the Black diaspora, encouraging viewers to reconsider which histories are celebrated and how they are represented.—
Ryma Chikhoune,
Footwear News,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This stimulating and picturesque biographical graphic novel captures the extraordinary life of Fela Kuti, the Nigerian musician who put the Afrobeat genre of music at the forefront as an international voice of resistance.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Essence,
9 Oct. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
After delivering his version of a rousing speech at a companywide presentation for a new project in Canton, Ohio, Ron suffers a modest embarrassment in front of his colleagues and his boss, Jeff (Lou Diamond Phillips).—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
9 Oct. 2025
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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
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 15 Oct. 2025.
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