1
as in to awaken
to cause to stop sleeping
the rooster's crow aroused me from my deep sleep
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of arouse
This, of course, has only aroused interest and suspicion.
—
Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 16 July 2025
But less mechanically demanding games like Journey also arouse those nearly indescribably wonderful feelings associated with trekking: freedom, awe, fear, maybe loneliness — above all, the sensation of being totally immersed in nature.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 9 July 2025
The problem is that your idealism is aroused and you might be tempted to give away the farm.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 28 June 2025
Paparazzi photos aroused curiosity in the Lay’s and Doritos of the world — and Balenciaga’s merchandising team.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for arouse
Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 16 July 2025
But less mechanically demanding games like Journey also arouse those nearly indescribably wonderful feelings associated with trekking: freedom, awe, fear, maybe loneliness — above all, the sensation of being totally immersed in nature.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 9 July 2025
The problem is that your idealism is aroused and you might be tempted to give away the farm.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 28 June 2025
Paparazzi photos aroused curiosity in the Lay’s and Doritos of the world — and Balenciaga’s merchandising team.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for arouse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arouse
Verb
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Fifty-seven years after the events of Alien, colonel marines discover Ripley's shuttle and awaken her from a state of hypersleep.—
Rendy Jones,
EW.com,
11 Aug. 2025
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There is a frail older customer who gratefully accepts a pizza delivery, and whose need for physical assistance awakens Souleymane’s own compassion.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Sure, it has been taxed during this difficult stretch, but 11 other bullpens awoke on Wednesday with more innings pitched than Houston’s since the All-Star break.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
21 Aug. 2025
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Their offense, anemic for much of the first half, has awoken during the summer’s dog days.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The defense also claimed that the two men Kemp shot at provoked the shooting by stealing Kemp’s truck, his cellphone and memorabilia in Seattle.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
24 Aug. 2025
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The work had been set to appear in Sherald’s solo exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery; on learning that the museum wished to remove the painting from the show to avoid provoking Trump, the artist canceled the exhibition.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Mitchell woke as police approached and fled, as officers pursued.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
27 Aug. 2025
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That statement underscores how companies must balance tradition with change in an environment where the political and woke microscope of social media is focused on every design tweak that could be fostering a hidden message.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But with the help of his friends and a rousing, inclusive baseball game, Hugo learns that everyone needs something a little different to succeed and that working together is no trouble at all.—
Ashlee Conour,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
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For the encore of the Flaming Lips’ set, Brock joined the band on stage for a rousing rendition of the 1970 heavy metal tune.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Mark Armstrong: Traveling to a stunningly remote location encourages you to look inward.—
Jim Clash,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
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Miss Manners encourages you instead to put the energy into that letter, thanking the gentleman profusely for attending to such a monumental and potentially harrowing situation with so much grace.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The breaths stimulate your vagus nerve, which flips on the opposite response: the aptly named rest and digest—which regulates both brain and gut.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
27 Aug. 2025
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Red-light therapy devices for hair growth are some of the most promising noninvasive tools for targeting hair loss, with research showing that wavelengths around 650 nanometers can stimulate follicles, increase blood flow, and energize scalp cells.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Arouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arouse. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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