AROUSE Synonyms: 109 Similar and Opposite Words

arouse

verb

ə-ˈrau̇z

Definition of arouse

as in to awaken

to cause to stop sleeping the rooster's crow aroused me from my deep sleep

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to awake

to cease to be asleep set the alarm so we would arouse at 5:00 a.m.

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to provoke

to rouse to strong feeling or action the court's controversial decision aroused many to protest and to lobby the legislature for a constitutional amendment

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 arouse Overview The emergence of teleSUR has aroused significant interest due to its uniqueness of being the first regional television channel purely financed by more than three Latin American states. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026 There may be many spouses out there who are aroused by mother-in-law cosplay. — John Hodgman, New York Times, 22 May 2026 Bell is a revelation as the nebbish, envious and conflictedly aroused Niall — a desperate man hiding from others and himself. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026 Payment processors aren’t idiots, and a huge number of new charges was likely to arouse suspicion. — Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for arouse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for arouse

Verb

While many teenagers awakening to mortality might turn to poetry or self-destructive behavior, Cao turned to science.

— Ingrid Wickelgren, Quanta Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026
The series follows Ray Azumi (voiced by Takeo Otsuka), a war orphan who awakens on the lunar surface as the pilot of the experimental mobile suit Gundam ZERO.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of awaken

Verb

The fireworks came instead from the Dodgers' slumbering offense, which awoke with Max Muncy's three-run double and Freddie Freeman's RBI single after Skubal departed.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
In the morning, travelers will awake among the graceful canals and bridges of Venice, with a private water taxi to ferry them into the heart of the Venetian lagoon to explore the city’s many islands.

— Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of awake

Verb

These groups that are coming here are coming for one reason, and that is to provoke a reaction and generate attention.

— Heath Kalb, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
The sources added that the relationship breakdown also provoked serious concerns about the wellbeing of the senior colleague.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of provoke

Verb

Abdul El-Sayed, a rabble-rousing populist and former public health official, just barely eked out a primary victory Tuesday in Michigan over a centrist rival who was the pick of Washington Democrats to keep a must-hold Senate seat.

— Philip Elliott, Time, 5 Aug. 2026
Around three in the morning, after the evening Kenzo had died, the woman had suddenly woken up, having been roused by the sound of water coming from the house next door.

— Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of rouse

Verb

Separating students from those pressures for several hours could encourage face-to-face conversation and give overwhelmed teenagers a genuine break.

— Kavin Bendre, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Protecting elections and encouraging thoughtful voting is imperative to retake control of our government.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of encourage

Verb

My grandparents have found that compression socks help relieve some of the discomfort and swelling that comes from prolonged restricted movement by stimulating circulation in your legs.

— Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 8 Aug. 2026
Some observers expect the BOJ to raise interest rates over the coming months, but such a move could work against efforts to stimulate the economy.

— Max Zahn, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of stimulate

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arouse

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Style

“Arouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arouse. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of arouse

verb

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