arousing
adjective
arous·ing ə-ˈrau̇-ziŋ 
: causing stimulation to a state of excitement
especially : sexually exciting
sexually arousing materials
He found the smell of her perfume arousing. 
Irvine Welsh
Irvine Welsh The strip was called Male Call, and it featured the most arousing woman of my young life: Miss Lace. Pete Hamill
Pete Hamill arousingly adverb
… Frischmann's lyrics are still arousingly sexy and smart. Dan Aquilante
Dan Aquilante 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web 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, Star Tribune, 24 Nov. 2020 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
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, Star Tribune, 24 Nov. 2020 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 Word History
Etymology
from present participle of arouse
First Known Use
1948, in the meaning defined above
arousing 1 of 2
adjective
as in awakening
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- awakening
- energizing
- invigorating
- stimulating
- waking
- rousing
- stimulant
- wakening
- refreshing
- reviving
- stimulatory
- bracing
- stimulative
- restorative
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hypnotic
- narcotic
- somnolent
- slumberous
- sleepy
- soporific
- opiate
- tranquilizing
- drowsy
- soothing
- sedative
- slumbrous
- calming
- comforting
- relaxant
- relaxing
- settling
- somniferous
- restful
- tranquillizing
- depressant
- quieting
- pacifying
- lulling
arousing
2 of 2verb
1
as in waking
to cause to stop sleeping the rooster's crow aroused me from my deep sleep Synonyms & Similar Words
- waking
- awakening
- awaking
- rousing
- wakening
- stimulating
- provoking
- stirring
- knocking up
- disturbing
- exciting
- raising
- reviving
- reawakening
- routing
- rousting
- agitating
- bestirring
- rewaking
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lulling
- mesmerizing
- hypnotizing
2
as in awaking
to cease to be asleep set the alarm so we would arouse at 5:00 a.m. Synonyms & Similar Words
- awaking
- waking
- awakening
- rousing
- wakening
- rising
- watching
- reawakening
- uprising
- arising
- stirring
- rolling out
- reviving
- turning out
- getting up
- rewaking
- shifting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sleeping
- dozing
- resting
- slumbering
- snoozing
- napping
- nodding
- dropping off
- catnapping
- bedding (down)
- couching
- conking (off or out)
- flopping
- retiring
- turning in
- dossing (down)
- lying up
- kipping (down)
- sleeping in
- oversleeping
- sacking out
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- provoking
- encouraging
- stimulating
- stirring
- inspiring
- inciting
- sparking
- motivating
- exciting
- inducing
- moving
- piquing
- instigating
- triggering
- driving
- igniting
- inflaming
- energizing
- motiving
- impassioning
- activating
- galvanizing
- angering
- fanning
- kindling
- enflaming
- vitalizing
- enraging
- animating
- revving (up)
- fomenting
- teasing
- firing (up)
- quickening
- building a fire under
- upsetting
- bothering
- irritating
- taunting
- exasperating
- aggravating
- maddening
- abetting
- setting off
- annoying
- raising
- jeering
- fermenting
- vexing
- getting
- pumping up
- galling
- keying (up)
- whipping (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- soothing
- subduing
- calming
- tranquilizing
- appeasing
- pacifying
- tranquillizing
- mollifying
- placating