as in evokes
to draw out (something hidden, latent, or reserved)
the role elicited the actress's flair for comedy that previous directors had overlooked
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Recent Examples of elicits
The viewer might wonder if the scene of Anna interacting with neighbor James (Shane Harper) and his drinking buddies, who are hanging out on lawn chairs in the drive, elicits more anxiety for her safety than the director intended.
—
Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
The president says banks should cap credit card interest at 10% for a year — an idea that elicits some applause from borrowers and a lot of consternation from finance companies.
—Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 14 Jan. 2026
The gift that elicits a hug from Farley Webster grew up in Michigan attending Riverside High School in Dearborn Heights, Michigan.
—Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 10 Jan. 2026
The thing that outrages, the thing that shocks, the thing that elicits the greatest response, and the greatest response of all of those emotional reactions is outrage, is fear, is shock, is anger.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2025
Snow-watching elicits a sense of calm and amazement.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 29 Dec. 2025
This dynamism elicits the romantic spirit and purpose behind driving through even the most barren landscapes, where the simultaneous acts of drifting, gazing, and thinking unearth profound emotions.
—Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 19 Dec. 2025
When Jon and Marjorie talk without Tess present, there’s a trace of conspiracy that both endears us to them and elicits our sympathy for poor, fraught Tess.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
There’s no doubt that Swift elicits a strong response one way or the other from much of the listening public.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 2025
Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
The president says banks should cap credit card interest at 10% for a year — an idea that elicits some applause from borrowers and a lot of consternation from finance companies.
—Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 14 Jan. 2026
The gift that elicits a hug from Farley Webster grew up in Michigan attending Riverside High School in Dearborn Heights, Michigan.
—Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 10 Jan. 2026
The thing that outrages, the thing that shocks, the thing that elicits the greatest response, and the greatest response of all of those emotional reactions is outrage, is fear, is shock, is anger.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2025
Snow-watching elicits a sense of calm and amazement.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 29 Dec. 2025
This dynamism elicits the romantic spirit and purpose behind driving through even the most barren landscapes, where the simultaneous acts of drifting, gazing, and thinking unearth profound emotions.
—Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 19 Dec. 2025
When Jon and Marjorie talk without Tess present, there’s a trace of conspiracy that both endears us to them and elicits our sympathy for poor, fraught Tess.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
There’s no doubt that Swift elicits a strong response one way or the other from much of the listening public.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elicits
Verb
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Arquiste’s best-selling Nanban, for instance, conjures the aroma of a 17th-century galleon laden with coffee, leather, and saffron, while L’Or de Louis evokes the atmosphere of an orangerie at Versailles.—
April Long,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
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Beyond poetry, this night evokes the Black tradition of oral history – passing down lessons, narratives and lived experiences through spoken word.—
Anya Sesay,
jsonline.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There’s a lot of fear of China in Japan, economically and militarily, and, even though people understand there’s interdependence between the two countries, Takaichi is seen as being willing to stand up to China, which inspires a kind of nationalism.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elicits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elicits. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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