| Noun | 1. | rousing - the act of arousing; "the purpose of art is the arousal of emotions" change of state - the act of changing something into something different in essential characteristics awakening, wakening, waking up - the act of waking; "it was an early awakening"; "it was the waking up he hated most" excitation, excitement - something that agitates and arouses; "he looked forward to the excitements of the day" incitement, incitation - an act of urging on or spurring on or rousing to action or instigating; "the incitement of mutiny" inflaming, inflammation - arousal to violent emotion stirring, inspiration - arousing to a particular emotion or action stimulation - the act of arousing an organism to action titillation - an agreeable arousal |
| Adj. | 1. | rousing - capable of arousing enthusiasm or excitement; "a rousing sermon"; "stirring events such as wars and rescues" stimulating - rousing or quickening activity or the senses; "a stimulating discussion" |
| 2. | rousing - rousing to activity or heightened action as by spurring or goading; "tossed a rousing political comment into the conversation" provocative - serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate; stimulating discussion or exciting controversy; "a provocative remark"; "a provocative smile"; "provocative Irish tunes which...compel the hearers to dance"- Anthony Trollope |