as in evokes
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 elicits
New School Barbecue Barbecue elicits strong opinions—just see the comments on our annual Top 50 BBQ Joints list.
—
Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2026
So yes, seeing the Red Wings enter March in a wild-card position elicits some angst.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Dignity elicits dignity, gravity elicits gravity, and respect elicits respect.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
The viewer might wonder if the scene of Anna interacting with neighbor James (Shane Harper) and his drinking buddies, who are hanging out on lawn chairs in the drive, elicits more anxiety for her safety than the director intended.
—Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
The president says banks should cap credit card interest at 10% for a year — an idea that elicits some applause from borrowers and a lot of consternation from finance companies.
—Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 14 Jan. 2026
The gift that elicits a hug from Farley Webster grew up in Michigan attending Riverside High School in Dearborn Heights, Michigan.
—Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 10 Jan. 2026
Snow-watching elicits a sense of calm and amazement.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 29 Dec. 2025
This dynamism elicits the romantic spirit and purpose behind driving through even the most barren landscapes, where the simultaneous acts of drifting, gazing, and thinking unearth profound emotions.
—Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 19 Dec. 2025
Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2026
So yes, seeing the Red Wings enter March in a wild-card position elicits some angst.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Dignity elicits dignity, gravity elicits gravity, and respect elicits respect.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
The viewer might wonder if the scene of Anna interacting with neighbor James (Shane Harper) and his drinking buddies, who are hanging out on lawn chairs in the drive, elicits more anxiety for her safety than the director intended.
—Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
The president says banks should cap credit card interest at 10% for a year — an idea that elicits some applause from borrowers and a lot of consternation from finance companies.
—Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 14 Jan. 2026
The gift that elicits a hug from Farley Webster grew up in Michigan attending Riverside High School in Dearborn Heights, Michigan.
—Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 10 Jan. 2026
Snow-watching elicits a sense of calm and amazement.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 29 Dec. 2025
This dynamism elicits the romantic spirit and purpose behind driving through even the most barren landscapes, where the simultaneous acts of drifting, gazing, and thinking unearth profound emotions.
—Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 19 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elicits
Verb
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After their excellent but somewhat overlooked 2023 album 3D Country — which occasionally evokes the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion — the band was feeling dispirited.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
8 Mar. 2026
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And that word — dogfight — evokes two words that apply to a lot of the talk that came up often after Canadiens practice at Honda Center on Thursday.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
2 Mar. 2026
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Meanwhile, Paul’s decision about the practice inspires Gaby.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elicits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elicits. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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