AROUSES Synonyms: 109 Similar and Opposite Words

arouses

verb

present tense third-person singular of arouse

as in wakes

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

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as in awakes

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

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as in provokes

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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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 arouses More than three devices is considered a cluster that arouses interest. — Carolyn Forché, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025 That intense scarcity arouses a FOMO among very wealthy car lovers that allows Ferrari to charge prices like $250,000 for one of its entry-level cars, and $3 million for a hypercar like its F80. — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025 For various reasons—his kids are off from school during the robbery; his getaway driver drops out; his hotheaded gunman arouses suspicion—his haphazard caper doesn’t lead to riches. — Robert Daniels, Time, 10 Oct. 2025 This arouses the ire of the town’s belligerent sheriff (Colin Hanks, playing against type) and crooked theme park owner (John Ortiz) who decide to get revenge on the apparent family man causing them trouble. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2025 The moon’s clash with Chiron arouses your pessimistic side. — Usa Today, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for arouses

Verb

The speaker in Hirshfield’s poem wakes twice, inviting us to consider both a physical awakening and a spiritual one.

— The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 15 Oct. 2026
A couple in crisis wakes to find their apartment sealed off by a mysterious, unbreakable substance.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of wakes

Verb

While preparing for a trip, he is rendered unconscious using knockout gas and awakes to find himself inside a perfect recreation of his own home, but this one is located in a mysterious settlement known as The Village.

— William Worrall, Space.com, 15 July 2026
Just at that moment, Jamie — our dream lover in every sense — awakes with a jolt.

— Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026

Definition of awakes

Verb

Along with their organization’s missions, the pair picked horror because of the conversations the genre provokes.

— Isabelle Farina, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026
Another question, says Professor Trotti at Ithaca College, is whether a public execution portrays strength or provokes horror.

— Patrik Jonsson, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of provokes

Verb

The Hulu series also stars Sam Nivola as a teenager who awakens from a coma after an accident believing his mother (Britton) is an impostor.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
And yet, if someone earnestly explores the merits of the zodiac or crystal healing at a dinner party, my inner cynic awakens.

— Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of awakens

Verb

Carl lowers his head like a hitter hit by a pitch, then rouses himself and breaks into a stiff, elderly trot, shooting a salute over at whoever’s inside the tilted little guard hut.

— George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
The 2026 club just might be the team that rouses them.

— Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 4 May 2026

Definition of rouses

Verb

As the cooling metal tool depuffs swollen tissues and stimulates microcirculation, the peptide-rich cream works beneath the surface to rebuild structural volume.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Glamour, 23 Oct. 2026
Stronger muscles put more tension on the bones, which stimulates greater bone cell turnover.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of stimulates

Verb

Skeleton Tree at Rumi’s Kitchen Perfect for the midnight cocktail hour, Rumi’s stirs together a black Manhattan with Persian spice.

— Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Watching polygamous families, Surya says, stirs pity, judgment and empathy in her, as well as fascination with the camaraderie, rivalry and sisterhood between the women.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of stirs

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“Arouses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arouses. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of arouses

verb

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