arouse
[verb]
Synonyms:
- stimulate, excite, incite, instigate, provoke, spur, stir up, summon up, whip up
- awaken, rouse, waken, wake up

---

Antonyms: calm, quiet
Contrasted words: allay, alleviate, assuage, ease, mitigate, relieve, mollify, pacify, placate
Related Idioms: fan the fire (or flame), raise to fever heat, set on fire, stir one's blood (or feelings)
Related Words: alert, excite, work up, electrify, thrill, fire, inflame

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

a‧rouse /əˈraʊz/ verb [transitive]
[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: rouse]

1. arouse interest/expectations etc to make you become interested, expect something etc:
Matt’s behavior was arousing the interest of the neighbors.

2. arouse hostility/suspicion/resentment/anger etc to make someone feel very unfriendly and angry, or suspicious:
A great deal of anger was aroused by Campbell’s decision.

3. to make someone feel sexually excited Synonym : excite:
She felt aroused by the pressure of his body so close to hers.

4. literary to wake someone
arouse from
Anne had to be aroused from a deep sleep.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

arouse
verb
BAD: If your feelings arouse easily, you cannot concentrate.
GOOD: If your feelings are easily aroused, you cannot concentrate.

Usage Note:
Arouse is a transitive verb: 'The chairman's resignation is bound to arouse new fears about the company's future.' 'My suspicions were aroused when I noticed that the car had been resprayed.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲