as in evoking
to draw out (something hidden, latent, or reserved)
the role elicited the actress's flair for comedy that previous directors had overlooked
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Recent Examples of eliciting
Perhaps his best pitch of the night was an 0-1 slider to Max Muncy in the sixth, eliciting a double play to end the inning after giving up two straight hits.
—
Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Tuesday’s nearly five-hour discussion spilled into Wednesday morning, eliciting passionate discussion.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Sep. 2025
The assassination of the conservative activist sent a shockwave through the American conservative movement, with Kirk’s sudden and public death eliciting emotional reactions from some of the country’s most prominent figures on the right.
—Elvia Limon, The Hill, 11 Sep. 2025
Such vaccines could induce broader immunity than whole-virus vaccines by eliciting antibody and T-cell responses that target an even wider range of flu viruses.
—Deborah Fuller, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
While eliciting rave reviews, the project also added in cameos for the CEOs David Zaslav and James Dolan who were not, according to most film historians, present on the 1939 MGM set.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025
Such vaccines could induce broader immunity than whole-virus vaccines by eliciting antibody and T-cell responses that target an even wider range of flu viruses.
—Deborah Fuller, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2025
The hosts’ artificial fascination wasn’t quite capable of eliciting my own.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Trump has said Chicago and New York are most likely his next targets, eliciting strong pushback from Democratic leaders in both states.
—Jonathan J. Cooper, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Tuesday’s nearly five-hour discussion spilled into Wednesday morning, eliciting passionate discussion.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Sep. 2025
The assassination of the conservative activist sent a shockwave through the American conservative movement, with Kirk’s sudden and public death eliciting emotional reactions from some of the country’s most prominent figures on the right.
—Elvia Limon, The Hill, 11 Sep. 2025
Such vaccines could induce broader immunity than whole-virus vaccines by eliciting antibody and T-cell responses that target an even wider range of flu viruses.
—Deborah Fuller, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
While eliciting rave reviews, the project also added in cameos for the CEOs David Zaslav and James Dolan who were not, according to most film historians, present on the 1939 MGM set.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025
Such vaccines could induce broader immunity than whole-virus vaccines by eliciting antibody and T-cell responses that target an even wider range of flu viruses.
—Deborah Fuller, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2025
The hosts’ artificial fascination wasn’t quite capable of eliciting my own.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Trump has said Chicago and New York are most likely his next targets, eliciting strong pushback from Democratic leaders in both states.
—Jonathan J. Cooper, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for eliciting
Verb
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Timed to the album’s multi-layered kick-off, physical orange doors began appearing in cities around the world — Nashville, London, Las Vegas, among them — each sporting QR codes that connected fans to brief travelogue-style videos evoking those locales.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
8 Oct. 2025
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These added to the new Grace design evoking fishermen’s nets with its knotted front construction and ankle strap and available either flat or in a stiletto sandal, in black or burgundy napa leather, as well as in green suede.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And the 4-0 loss to the Rangers on Thursday wasn’t inspiring in that regard.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
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Highlights included the school’s own Advanced Rock Band, a high-energy performance by the UCSD Indian Fusion Dance Team, and the awe-inspiring Chinese Lion Dancers.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Eliciting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eliciting. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
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