aroused

[uh-rouzd]

adjective

1. stirred up to strong response.

   The Legislature must answer for its actions to an informed and highly aroused public.

2. showing or feeling sexual excitement.

   "I must ask you that question more often, husband," she says, an aroused glow in her eyes.

3. awake and alert.

   In this long arctic winter the new moon makes me lethargic, and conversely the full moon keeps me pleasantly aroused and energetic.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of arouse.

Other Word Forms

• unaroused adjective
• well-aroused adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of aroused¹

arouse ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

The novels of Dame Jilly Cooper, who has died at the age of 88, are joyous descriptions of a fantasy world where monied men cast smouldering glances and women are instantly aroused.

From BBC

However, the judge said he posed a "significant risk of reoffending" and that he became "visibly aroused" by asking the girl to kiss another child.

From BBC

The following day, he attempted to kiss the girl, placed his hand on her thigh and became "visibly aroused" when asking her to kiss her friend.

From BBC

However, the judge said the Kebatu became "visibly aroused" when he asked the girl to kiss another child in front of him on 8 July.

From BBC

He argued for a strategy of changing party identification by messaging around salient issues when voters’ emotions were aroused, essentially creating a liberal version of the Long Southern Strategy.

From Salon

Related Words

• anxious 
• apprehensive 
• discouraged 
• distressed 
• fearful 
• frightened 
• horrified 
• intimidated 
• nervous 
• perplexed 
• perturbed 
• scared 
• shocked www.thesaurus.com
• spooked www.thesaurus.com
• startled 
• timid