EXCITE Synonyms: 94 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'excite' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of excite are pique , provoke , quicken , and stimulate . While all these words mean "to arouse as if by pricking," excite implies a stirring up or moving profoundly. // news that excited anger and frustration

Q: When might 'pique' be a better fit than 'excite'?

Although the words pique and excite have much in common, pique suggests stimulating by mild irritation or challenge. // that remark piqued my interest

Q: Where would 'provoke' be a reasonable alternative to 'excite'?

The meanings of provoke and excite largely overlap; however, provoke directs attention to the response called forth. // my stories usually provoke laughter

Q: In what contexts can 'quicken' take the place of 'excite'?

The synonyms quicken and excite are sometimes interchangeable, but quicken implies beneficially stimulating and making active or lively. // the high salary quickened her desire to have the job

Q: When is 'stimulate' a more appropriate choice than 'excite'?

The words stimulate and excite are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, stimulate suggests a rousing out of lethargy, quiescence, or indifference. // stimulating conversation

excite

verb

ik-ˈsīt

Definition of excite

as in to thrill

to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings for some reason the first snowfall of the season never fails to excite us

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to provoke

to rouse to strong feeling or action televised pictures of the victims of the famine that would excite any viewer to pity

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb excite contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of excite are pique, provoke, quicken, and stimulate. While all these words mean "to arouse as if by pricking," excite implies a stirring up or moving profoundly.

news that excited anger and frustration

When might pique be a better fit than excite?

Although the words pique and excite have much in common, pique suggests stimulating by mild irritation or challenge.

that remark piqued my interest

Where would provoke be a reasonable alternative to excite?

The meanings of provoke and excite largely overlap; however, provoke directs attention to the response called forth.

my stories usually provoke laughter

In what contexts can quicken take the place of excite?

The synonyms quicken and excite are sometimes interchangeable, but quicken implies beneficially stimulating and making active or lively.

the high salary quickened her desire to have the job

When is stimulate a more appropriate choice than excite?

The words stimulate and excite are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, stimulate suggests a rousing out of lethargy, quiescence, or indifference.

stimulating conversation

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 excite The actor told Fox News Digital what still excites him about his character, Dwight Manfredi. — Janelle Ash , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, the share describing themselves as excited fell eight percentage points to 51%. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026 Other nuclei have energy gaps that are too large for lasers to excite. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2026 Interesting in a good way that actually excited me for where Taylor could go next sonically and lyrically? — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for excite

Recent Examples of Synonyms for excite

Verb

For me, getting to explore the interior lives of women with a rejection towards society’s pressure to have to uphold some false perfection — that’s really thrilling for me as an artist.

— Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026
The Sinners actress was captured bringing the biggest fan energy in the stands as Allen helped lead Buffalo to a thrilling 37-34 overtime win at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Monday.

— Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of thrill

Verb

The same principle applies to debates about religion, economics and virtually any subject capable of provoking strong emotions.

— Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
Fortunately, the fake tip didn’t provoke any further actions from the PPD, and was reportedly flagged as spam after being picked up by its safeguards.

— Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of provoke

Verb

While the resulting hydrogen can help decarbonize industries that are difficult to electrify directly, its wider adoption has been constrained by its cost compared with hydrogen produced from fossil fuels.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
To electrify their countries, governments will need to invest in power generation, transmission lines, and transformers.

— Jared Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of electrify

Verb

The Nespresso devotee in your life will delight at the chance to try a different classic or limited-edition coffee capsule every day in the lead-up to Christmas.

— Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
Tse Yang was the finest Chinese restaurant to open in Madrid, and its crispy Peking Duck has been delighting locals for years.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of delight

Verb

The reason progestogen is recommended in women with a uterus is because estrogen can stimulate growth of the uterine lining and increase the risk of endometrial cancer.

— Shannon Firth, NPR, 16 Oct. 2026
The glasses project light onto 378 pixels in the implant, which converts those light patterns into an electrical current that stimulates the retina’s bipolar cells.

— Erica Sweeney, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of stimulate

Verb

All inspired by Rise & Fall’s signature knitwear and outerwear, the designs recast the language of clothing in sculptural forms, bringing together the softness of textiles and the presence of jewelry.

— Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
We were inspired from how many great discoveries that went on to revolutionize science and medicine came about from looking around in nature and finding these odd things—PCR [polymerase chain reaction] tests, for example, or CRISPR.

— Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of inspire

Verb

In the doorframe was the manager, sniffing around, suspicions aroused.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026
His efforts, however, encountered their greatest obstacle after World War II due to the suspicions aroused by Philip’s family’s uncomfortable ties to the Nazis.

— Diego Parrado, Vanity Fair, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of arouse

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excitableness

excite

excited

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“Excite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excite. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of excite

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