excite

1 to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings for some reason the first snowfall of the season never fails to excite us Synonyms charge, electrify, thrill, exhilarate, galvanize, intoxicate, pump up, titillate, turn onRelated Words arouse, incite, inspire, provoke, stimulate; bewitch, captivate, charm, delight, enchant, enthrall (or enthral), hypnotize, mesmerize, rivet, spellbind; interest, intrigue, tantalizeNear Antonyms bore, jade, pall, tire, weary; deject, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit

2 to rouse to strong feeling or action televised pictures of the victims of the famine that would excite any viewer to pity Synonyms arouse, encourage, provoke, fire (up), impassion, incite, instigate, move, pique, rev (up), spark, stimulate, stirRelated Words fan, ignite, inflame (also enflame), kindle, trigger; activate, animate, drive, energize, galvanize, induce, inspire, key (up), motivate, motive, pump up, quicken, set off, vitalize; abet, ferment, foment, raise, whip (up); anger, enrage, madden, upset; jeer, taunt, tease; aggravate, annoy, bother, exasperate, gall, get, irritate, vexNear Antonyms calm, soothe, subdue, tranquilize (also tranquillize); appease, mollify, pacify, placate