Synonym Chooser

How does the verb elicit contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of elicit are educe, evoke, extort, and extract. While all these words mean "to draw out something hidden, latent, or reserved," elicit usually implies some effort or skill in drawing forth a response.

careful questioning elicited the truth

When is it sensible to use educe instead of elicit?

The meanings of educe and elicit largely overlap; however, educe implies the bringing out of something potential or latent.

educed order out of chaos

When could evoke be used to replace elicit?

The words evoke and elicit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, evoke implies a strong stimulus that arouses an emotion or an interest or recalls an image or memory.

a song that evokes warm memories

When might extort be a better fit than elicit?

In some situations, the words extort and elicit are roughly equivalent. However, extort suggests a wringing or wresting from one who resists strongly.

extorted their cooperation by threatening to inform

In what contexts can extract take the place of elicit?

Although the words extract and elicit have much in common, extract implies the use of force or pressure in obtaining answers or information.

extracted a confession from him

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of elicit The researchers concluded that the shocks elicited both pain and fear, and while some dogs associated the shocks with training cues, many associated the shock and pain with their handler. Dawn Kovell, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025 The vaccine method Sacha and his team are working on stitches pieces of the influenza virus with a common herpes virus, which infects most people and produces mild or no symptoms but elicits a T cell response. Meira Gebel, Axios, 27 Jan. 2025 After Drake withdrew the New York petition to clear the path for a lawsuit, the Texas petition still stands, eliciting a response from UMG demanding dismissal. Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025 The zoo’s application to import the pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao elicited nearly 38,000 comments to the American government, some of them written partly in Chinese. Mara Hvistendahl, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for elicit 

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Cite this Entry

“Elicit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elicit. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on elicit

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