1
as in waking
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 awaking
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 provoking
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
as in energizing
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Recent Examples of arousing
Essence, 11 Sep. 2025
Squeezing lube out of a bottle until the cold goop squirts out isn't the most arousing act.
—Brenda Stolyar, WIRED, 4 Feb. 2023
Amazon Prime members can also ship items to a locker to avoid arousing suspicions when the parcel is delivered, Valentine Lent said.
—Amanda Pérez Pintado, USA TODAY, 15 Dec. 2022
That’s sort of gross, but also a strangely arousing way to describe the painful expansion of self that comes with falling in love.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2022
The supervisor also recommended performing the steps two to three hours after trying to interview members of a household to avoid arousing suspicions from higher-ups who could track where census takers had been through their IPhones.
—Mike Schneider, Anchorage Daily News, 24 Nov. 2020
Some research suggests that men around the world find a specific waist-to-hip ratio (0.7) to be most arousing.
—Ogi Ogas, Discover Magazine, 20 Sep. 2011
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Far from arousing curiosity, the movie forecloses it.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
Adding oils or a warm soak can increase sensitivity and make the experience both soothing and arousing.
—Essence, 11 Sep. 2025
Squeezing lube out of a bottle until the cold goop squirts out isn't the most arousing act.
—Brenda Stolyar, WIRED, 4 Feb. 2023
Amazon Prime members can also ship items to a locker to avoid arousing suspicions when the parcel is delivered, Valentine Lent said.
—Amanda Pérez Pintado, USA TODAY, 15 Dec. 2022
That’s sort of gross, but also a strangely arousing way to describe the painful expansion of self that comes with falling in love.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2022
The supervisor also recommended performing the steps two to three hours after trying to interview members of a household to avoid arousing suspicions from higher-ups who could track where census takers had been through their IPhones.
—Mike Schneider, Anchorage Daily News, 24 Nov. 2020
Some research suggests that men around the world find a specific waist-to-hip ratio (0.7) to be most arousing.
—Ogi Ogas, Discover Magazine, 20 Sep. 2011
Adjective
In fact, studies have found that couples who share novel and arousing activities report greater satisfaction.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Far from arousing curiosity, the movie forecloses it.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arousing
Verb
-
Basically, all the stuff Prodigy just worked so hard to delete is the very first thing that Nibs hears about upon waking, because no steps were taken whatsoever to either brief the other hybrids or isolate her for observation.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
An impatient dog's way of waking his owners up in the morning has left viewers on TikTok in stitches.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Follow Scheffler for destination stories, travel trends and thought-provoking conversations from the world of travel.—
Daniel Scheffler,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
With online newsfeeds, that meant algorithms prioritizing posts with more anger-provoking content, or posts that drive comparisons of beauty, wealth or success.—
Jenna Glover,
Fortune,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Down 7-6, FAMU quarterback RJ Johnson III hit Jalen Rogers for a 26-yard grab, awakening the once silent Rattler crowd.—
Jayden Gonzalez,
Miami Herald,
31 Aug. 2025
-
Last week’s awakening Aquarius Full Moon likely exposed broken systems and illuminated long-standing imbalances.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The immediacy and interactivity of social media platforms amplified the outrage, encouraging group mobilization.—
Nir Kshetri,
The Conversation,
14 Sep. 2025
-
By encouraging curiosity, leaders and employees can move beyond surface-level use and unlock the full potential of the tools around them.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Our conversations were always insightful and engaging, a truly stimulating exchange of ideas.—
Andrea Onate,
Footwear News,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Whatever happens will be a stimulating alternative that will likely appeal to you.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Though Woollcott died unexpectedly just a little more than a month before publication, the book was a rousing success, going through multiple printings.—
Paul Slovak
September 16,
Literary Hub,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Specifically, a rousing game of Pips.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In 1979, Birkin began an affair with the filmmaker Jacques Doillon, who was thirty-five to her thirty-two—an invigorating change from Gainsbourg, eighteen years her senior.—
Anahid Nersessian,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
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That said, there are far less invigorating ways to watch a good movie go off the rails than to put yourself in the hand of Schnabel.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Arousing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arousing. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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