arouse emotions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "arouse emotions" is correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase can be used when you want to describe a situation or person that is causing certain emotions to be felt. For example, "The actor's powerful performance was able to arouse deep emotions in the audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

For a dramatist who used to pretend that he didn't want to arouse emotions, it was an overwhelmingly emotional occasion.

The New York Times

The whole thrust of the modern tabloid agenda, in both news and features pages, is calculated to arouse emotions - of loathing or love or lust.

The Guardian

(What the ladies are doing in Korea is never explained).Plainly, "One Minute to Zero" is a ripely synthetic affair, arranged to arouse emotions with the most easy and obvious clichés.

The New York Times

Similarly, the epilogue has traditionally been used to arouse emotions like pity or anger; but as soon as the epilogue recalls the conclusions reached, it will make the speech more understandable.

SEP

The general idea seems to be this: Previous theorists of rhetoric gave most of their attention to methods outside the subject; they taught how to slander, how to arouse emotions in the audience, or how to distract the attention of the hearers from the subject.

SEP

In comparison with the tricks of former rhetoricians, this method of arousing emotions has a striking advantage: The orator who wants to arouse emotions must not even speak outside the subject; it is sufficient to detect aspects of a given subject that are causally connected with the intended emotion.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

People learn from people they love and remember the things that arouse emotion.

The New York Times

In the digital age that the designer embraces so fervently, how to arouse emotion?

The New York Times

But for Ms. Hogben, in the Gareth Pugh film and in other visual work she has done for ShowStudio, the concept is not so much to grab attention as to arouse emotion.

The New York Times

In the famous sequence involving a runaway baby carriage, Eisenstein uses montage to arouse emotion and create suspense.

BBC

Typically the machine was used to perform complex mathematics but Mr Strachey put it to more whimsical use by writing a program that generated texts that were intended to arouse emotion.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing art or media, use "arouse emotions" to show how they impact the audience's feelings.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "arouse emotions" might sound unnatural in overly formal writing. Consider using more sophisticated synonyms like "elicit" or "invoke" for a polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "arouse emotions" functions as a verb phrase, where "arouse" is a transitive verb and "emotions" is its direct object. According to Ludwig, this phrase is used to describe the act of causing or stimulating emotions in someone or something. It suggests the capability to evoke feelings.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "arouse emotions" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that describes the act of evoking feelings or emotional responses. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is suitable for describing how various stimuli, such as art or events, can impact an individual's emotional state. While its usage is prevalent across several contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias, it appears less frequently in academia, wiki and formal business settings. The top authoritative sources that employ this phrase include The New York Times, The Guardian and Encyclopedia Britannica. For those seeking alternative expressions, "evoke feelings", "stir emotions" and "trigger emotions" offer nuanced substitutions. Although "arouse emotions" is generally appropriate, being mindful of the context and the intended tone ensures the most effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evoke feelings

This alternative focuses on the act of bringing feelings to the surface.

stir emotions

This alternative uses "stir" to convey a sense of movement and intensity in emotions.

trigger emotions

This alternative highlights the cause-and-effect relationship between an event and the onset of emotions.

elicit emotions

This alternative suggests a more formal and deliberate act of drawing out emotions.

invoke feelings

This alternative implies a call to emotions, often from a deeper or more subconscious place.

generate emotions

This alternative focuses on the creation or production of emotions.

provoke feelings

This alternative suggests that something caused some specific feelings to emerge, sometimes negative ones.

instill emotions

This alternative implies a more gradual and purposeful introduction of emotions.

awaken feelings

This alternative focuses on bringing dormant or suppressed emotions to the surface.

ignite emotions

This alternative suggests a sudden and intense burst of emotion.

FAQs

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

You can use "arouse emotions" to describe something that evokes feelings, such as "The movie's plot was designed to arouse emotions in the audience."

What's a more formal way to say "arouse emotions"?

More formal alternatives include "elicit emotions", "invoke feelings", or "stir emotions".

Is it correct to say "arouse feelings" instead of "arouse emotions"?

Yes, "arouse feelings" is a perfectly acceptable alternative, though "arouse emotions" might be slightly more specific.

What's the difference between "arouse emotions" and "provoke emotions"?

"Arouse emotions" generally means to stimulate or awaken feelings, while "provoke feelings" often implies a stronger, sometimes negative, reaction.