1
as in to awaken
to cause to stop sleeping
the rooster's crow aroused me from my deep sleep
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to awake
to cease to be asleep
set the alarm so we would arouse at 5:00 a.m.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Several other drugs, including amantadine and apomorphine, can have similarly arousing effects, though none has worked in more than a tiny sliver of patients.
—
Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 16 May 2025
Being aroused more easily during sleep stages, for example, is a normal experience for many aging people.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
Cassie admitted that ecstasy made her feel euphoric and aroused, while ketamine would make her dissociative.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2025
Sidelining people who voiced those views aroused righteous wrath.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for arouse
Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 16 May 2025
Being aroused more easily during sleep stages, for example, is a normal experience for many aging people.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
Cassie admitted that ecstasy made her feel euphoric and aroused, while ketamine would make her dissociative.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2025
Sidelining people who voiced those views aroused righteous wrath.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for arouse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arouse
Verb
-
In 2020 Hugo Lagercrantz of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden observed that consciousness can only awaken when there are connections between brain areas called the thalamus and the cerebral cortex.—
Christian Wolf,
Scientific American,
25 June 2025
-
The real Cooper, freshly awakened from a coma induced by sticking a fork in an electrical socket, his long-absent memory restored, arrives shortly thereafter, thence to be transported back in time to the night of the murder of Laura Palmer, which brought him to Twin Peaks so many years ago.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
20 June 2025
Verb
-
About 2,000 shelters were opened across Chiapas, Guerrero, and Oaxaca, and over 18,000 first responders were mobilized At first light Thursday, Acapulco awoke under ominous dark clouds, but without a drop of rain and small waves lapping at its central beach.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
-
Storm moves south on approach At first light Thursday, Acapulco awoke under ominous dark clouds.—
Luis Alberto Cruz,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2025
Verb
-
News of the plan, which was developed by city administrators but has not been publicly vetted or discussed, has provoked considerable consternation in political, downtown, cultural and preservation circles.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
26 June 2025
-
Furthermore, a closure would also provoke Iran's market in Asia, particularly China, which accounts for a majority of Iranian oil exports.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
23 June 2025
Verb
-
Subsequently, in my waking life, the sight of a dog turned me into, well, a scaredy cat.—
Thomas Cangelosi,
Hartford Courant,
27 June 2025
-
This could occur for players who tried to wake the game from sleep mode or who pressed a button to merely preview a purchasable item, the agency said in a complaint, which outline offenses from 2017 to 2022.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
26 June 2025
Verb
-
But they didn’t get cheated this spring, not with three rousing blasts from the past: Against the Pistons, against the Celtics, against the Pacers.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
23 June 2025
-
After a rousing verbal crescendo about 16 minutes into his speech, the crowd rose to its feet and delivered a standing ovation.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
22 June 2025
Verb
-
Smith encouraged him to tap into his enthusiasm for developing new ideas.—
Ryan Stowers,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
-
The five prizes were crafted based on research, evidence and consultation with teachers and education experts, and are designed to reflect key strategies that can encourage other schools to implement different strategies to strengthen their schools and communities.—
Lena Miano,
Arkansas Online,
18 June 2025
Verb
-
These drugs stimulate the pancreas to release insulin, which then decreases blood sugar levels.—
Omer Awan,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
-
Bright, overhead lighting stimulates serotonin production, enhancing alertness and boosting our mood and energy levels, perfect for kitchens and workspaces, but not ideal for intimate social settings.—
Sophie Flaxman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Arouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arouse. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share