arouse anger

USAGE SUMMARY

"arouse anger" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to describe when an action or event causes someone to become angry. For example, "The news of the government's tax hike aroused anger among many citizens."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The justices struck down a St. Paul ordinance making it a crime to engage in speech or behavior likely to arouse "anger or alarm" on the basis of "race, color, creed, religion or gender".

The New York Times

In an effort to arouse anger in the minds of unlearned Muslims, clerics make this fabrication often.

Huffington Post

During booms, macroprudential measures, such as restraints on lending, will tend to arouse anger, and if they avert a crisis, the public will never know.

The Economist

It did so again in 1992, when the justices found that a city ordinance prohibiting the display of symbols that arouse anger toward someone based on race, religion and other factors is unconstitutional.

The Washington Post

The law gives police tremendous discretion, with the leading 1959 case Worcester v Smith defining offensive as: [S]uch as is calculated to wound the feelings, arouse anger or resentment or disgust or outrage in the mind of a reasonable person.

The Guardian - Opinion

Similarly, in facing situations that arouse anger, a virtuous agent must determine what action (if any) to take in response to an insult, and although this is not itself a quantitative question, his attempt to answer it properly requires him to have the right degree of concern for his standing as a member of the community.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Further, pitting the southern Shiites or the northern Kurds against the ruling Sunnis in Iraq's center could arouse angers beyond the borders of Iraq and could fracture Iraq into ethnic and religious camps, creating a new source of instability in a chronically unstable region.

The New York Times

But by the late 1960s, his art aroused anger.

The New York Times - Arts

Photographs of the sailors' bodies were circulated on the Internet and aroused anger among some Chinese.

The New York Times

Mr. Weschler's article provoked an avalanche of letters, arousing anger as well as agreement.

The New York Times - Books

Like that series, the new show has aroused anger over what some consider the exploitation of broad cultural stereotypes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "arouse anger", ensure the context clearly indicates what or who is causing the anger. This helps to avoid ambiguity and strengthens the impact of your writing.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "arouse anger" can sometimes sound overly dramatic in formal writing. Consider using more neutral alternatives like "cause anger" or "generate anger" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "arouse anger" functions as a verb phrase, where "arouse" is a transitive verb and "anger" is its direct object. It describes the action of initiating or triggering a feeling of anger. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "arouse anger" is a grammatically sound and usable expression, as validated by Ludwig AI, typically employed to describe the act of causing or instigating anger. Though "arouse anger" is generally considered neutral, its usage is more common in news and media contexts. While it is a correct and understandable phrase, be mindful of its impact. Alternatives such as "provoke anger" or "stir up anger" might better suit certain situations. Use "arouse anger" when you want to highlight the instigation of anger, but consider the broader context for appropriateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provoke anger

Replaces "arouse" with "provoke", emphasizing the act of instigating the anger.

stir up anger

Uses the phrasal verb "stir up" to convey the idea of agitating or inciting anger.

incite anger

Replaces "arouse" with "incite", suggesting a more deliberate act of provoking anger.

ignite anger

Uses "ignite" to highlight the sudden and intense burst of anger.

trigger anger

Replaces "arouse" with "trigger", indicating that something acted as a stimulus for the anger.

generate anger

Uses "generate" to focus on creating or producing anger.

spark anger

Replaces "arouse" with "spark", implying a quick and often unexpected instigation of anger.

evoke anger

Uses "evoke" to suggest that the anger is brought forth from within.

foment anger

Replaces "arouse" with "foment", suggesting a deliberate and sustained effort to promote anger.

instigate anger

Uses "instigate" to express that anger is caused by a starting action.

FAQs

How can I use "arouse anger" in a sentence?

You can use "arouse anger" to describe something that causes someone to become angry. For instance, "The politician's controversial statement "aroused anger" among voters."

What's a more formal synonym for "arouse anger"?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives like "generate anger" or "cause anger".

Is it always appropriate to use "arouse anger"?

While grammatically correct, "arouse anger" might be too strong in some contexts. Evaluate whether a milder term like "provoke anger" or "stir up anger" might be more fitting.

What's the difference between "arouse anger" and "cause anger"?

"Arouse anger" suggests a more sudden or intense reaction, while "cause anger" is a more general term for something that leads to anger. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.