EXCITE Synonyms: 94 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'excite' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of excite are pique , provoke , quicken , and stimulate . While all these words mean "to arouse as if by pricking," excite implies a stirring up or moving profoundly. // news that excited anger and frustration

Q: When might 'pique' be a better fit than 'excite'?

Although the words pique and excite have much in common, pique suggests stimulating by mild irritation or challenge. // that remark piqued my interest

Q: Where would 'provoke' be a reasonable alternative to 'excite'?

The meanings of provoke and excite largely overlap; however, provoke directs attention to the response called forth. // my stories usually provoke laughter

Q: In what contexts can 'quicken' take the place of 'excite'?

The synonyms quicken and excite are sometimes interchangeable, but quicken implies beneficially stimulating and making active or lively. // the high salary quickened her desire to have the job

Q: When is 'stimulate' a more appropriate choice than 'excite'?

The words stimulate and excite are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, stimulate suggests a rousing out of lethargy, quiescence, or indifference. // stimulating conversation

excite

verb

ik-ˈsīt

Definition of excite

as in to thrill

to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings for some reason the first snowfall of the season never fails to excite us

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to provoke

to rouse to strong feeling or action televised pictures of the victims of the famine that would excite any viewer to pity

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb excite contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of excite are pique, provoke, quicken, and stimulate. While all these words mean "to arouse as if by pricking," excite implies a stirring up or moving profoundly.

news that excited anger and frustration

When might pique be a better fit than excite?

Although the words pique and excite have much in common, pique suggests stimulating by mild irritation or challenge.

that remark piqued my interest

Where would provoke be a reasonable alternative to excite?

The meanings of provoke and excite largely overlap; however, provoke directs attention to the response called forth.

my stories usually provoke laughter

In what contexts can quicken take the place of excite?

The synonyms quicken and excite are sometimes interchangeable, but quicken implies beneficially stimulating and making active or lively.

the high salary quickened her desire to have the job

When is stimulate a more appropriate choice than excite?

The words stimulate and excite are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, stimulate suggests a rousing out of lethargy, quiescence, or indifference.

stimulating conversation

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 excite Sound waves excite the air in the cavities, forcing out the oscillating air to generate thrust. — ArsTechnica, 1 Sep. 2026 At The Canteen, Chami takes a similar approach, onboarding establishments with a knack for identifying creative dishes that excite customers. — Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 30 Aug. 2026 The promise excited Ralph Gonzalez and Christine Munoz, who own the city's first gastropub, Newhall Refinery. — Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026 Parton was excited and taken aback by the new version of her song. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for excite

Recent Examples of Synonyms for excite

Verb

In January, just days after the Bears’ magical 2025 dream run ended with a playoff loss, Poles was thrilled when Johnson slammed the back cover on that season and ordered everyone to start working for 2026.

— Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Angels star Mike Trout, center, and his teammates were thrilled to learn Stan Kroenke, the billionaire Rams’ owner, agreed to buy the baseball team.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of thrill

Verb

By the mid-nineteenth century, the it-narrative began to interest authors invested less in provoking excitement than in guiding the moral development of their readers.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026
Ukraine’s recent strikes into Russia also have exposed weaknesses in Russia’s air defenses, which could prompt Putin to think twice about provoking a retaliatory attack.

— Emma Burrows, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of provoke

Verb

His music, a blend of charismatic and electrifying punk and post-punk, provided the hard-rocking moment of the entire three-and-a-half-hour evening.

— David Chiu, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Chinese advances in dam-building technology in recent years and a race to electrify with clean energy and cut off coal –– as well as a simmering, high-altitude China-India border feud –– have driven change in the region.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of electrify

Verb

By taking stem cells from a host’s own body and encouraging them to differentiate before mixing them with a commercially available, soluble matrix gel, researchers may have cracked the most critical problems in the transplant process.

— Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
The bark can also be stripped from the branch, called girdling, which encourages faster root growth.

— Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of encourage

Verb

In the last two months, New York City’s Radio City Music Hall hosted two ‘80s British music triple bills that delighted fans of the golden MTV era.

— David Chiu, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
This is a prospect that particularly delights Lady Eliza Spencer, Princess Diana’s niece and Prince Harry’s cousin.

— Mathilde Engelmann, Vanity Fair, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of delight

Verb

Chan’s parents always treated their back pain from laborious food industry jobs with acupuncture and cupping, the practice of using cups or suction on the skin to stimulate blood flow and the flow of chi, or energy.

— Cara Kelly, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Featured in over-the-counter topical products, the vitamin A derivative is found ubiquitously in anti-aging skin-care products, selected for its ability to increase cell turnover and stimulate collagen.

— Ellie Davis, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of stimulate

Verb

Chelsea, despite missing out on a late move for Lamine Camara, and Tottenham have improved considerably, but that is more a reflection of previous dysfunction — and a lighter schedule — than inspired recruitment.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
The museum plaza’s sweeping bridge creates a canopy of welcoming shade (inspired by Expo Park’s own trees), which the city — particularly this part — desperately needs.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of inspire

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

excitableness

excite

excited

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“Excite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excite. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of excite

verb

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