ROUSE Synonyms: 51 Similar and Opposite Words

rouse

verb

ˈrau̇z

Definition of rouse

as in to wake

to cause to stop sleeping the honking horns roused her from a deep sleep

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to awake

to cease to be asleep I finally roused around noon, after going to bed very late

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 rouse Four members of the group, Daniela Avanzini, Yoonchae Jeung, Lara Raj, and Megan Skiendiel, joined forces for a rousing performance of the pop number. — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2026 Abdul El-Sayed, a rabble-rousing populist and former public health official, just barely eked out a primary victory Tuesday in Michigan over a centrist rival who was the pick of Washington Democrats to keep a must-hold Senate seat. — Philip Elliott, Time, 5 Aug. 2026 Around three in the morning, after the evening Kenzo had died, the woman had suddenly woken up, having been roused by the sound of water coming from the house next door. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 Full of big moments, rousing choruses, barstool sing-alongs, and even a few weepers, Stages is an album calibrated to the live experience. — Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rouse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rouse

Verb

Join the dearly beloved under the stars for a reception worthy of the afterlife, with spirited DJ sets, drinks to wake the dead, and a free photobooth for your drop-dead gorgeous wedding portrait.

— Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026
Ensemble sitcoms live and die by their chemistry, so the cast — encouraged by Kronengold and Shaw — spend almost every waking moment together while filming.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of wake

Verb

The boy awoke at a family cottage in northern Ontario in 2024 with a bat resting across his nose and mouth.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Newcastle yearned to win, to fulfil the dream awoken by Keegan — who died of cancer last month — and Isak was part of the team that finally did it, a languid forward with a kiss for a touch who scored at Wembley when Liverpool were beaten.

— George Caulkin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of awake

Verb

This case has awakened debates about infanticide laws, which provide legal defenses only to mothers who kill their infant.

— Dr. Susan Hatters Friedman, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026
The co-creators had already hinted that after season 1, the subsequent installments would take the action back to 1935 and 1908, as the creature awakens from his sleep cycle every 27 years.

— Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of awaken

Verb

Like spacious minor-key chords given a subtle major-key lift, these color combinations can arouse powerful emotions that are excruciatingly just short of fulfillment.

— Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026
Making the set attractive to the children will arouse their interest, encourage them to keep playing and push them to improve.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of arouse

Browse Nearby Words

roundups

rouse

roused

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rouse. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of rouse

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes