Rousing

adj. energetic, hopeful register not recorded

What it means

Meaning 1

Strongly stirring enthusiasm, courage, or shared feeling.

Reach for it when praising speech, music, or action that moves people into energetic engagement

The choir ended with a rousing song of welcome.

Meaning 2

Exceptionally good, lively, or forceful.

Reach for it when offering enthusiastic informal praise for a performance or occasion

The village staged a rousing final match in the rain.

Words to choose between 9

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom, and by meaning across. Tap a word to see when it fits.
Meaning 1Meaning 2
playful
  • Rousing (this word)
everyday
warm
professional
Register not recorded

Meaning 1: Strongly stirring enthusiasm, courage, or shared feeling.

  • warm

    inspiring

    Fits when the effect is renewed hope or purpose

    Careful Inspiring need not produce immediate excitement.

  • warm

    stirring

    Fits when deep emotion and inspiration are central

    Careful Stirring can be solemn rather than energetic.

  • warm

    uplifting

    Fits when improved mood matters more than action

    Careful Uplifting is gentler and less forceful.

  • professional

    galvanizing

    Fits when emotion prompts coordinated action

    Careful Galvanizing is stronger and can pressure reluctant people.

  • Register not recorded

    exhilarating

    Fits when intense excitement and uplift are felt

    Careful Exhilarating is more sensory and may be exhausting.

Meaning 2: Exceptionally good, lively, or forceful.

  • everyday

    excellent

    Fits when high quality is the plain claim

    Careful Excellent lacks rousing's lively energy.

  • warm

    splendid

    Fits when generous admiration suits the tone

    Careful Splendid is broader and slightly formal.

  • professional

    vigorous

    Fits when strong active effort deserves emphasis

    Careful Vigorous can be forceful without being enjoyable.

  • Register not recorded

    spirited

    Fits when lively courage or performance is central

    Careful Spirited can be contentious and does not guarantee quality.

Opposites 4

  • dampening
  • discouraging
  • poor
  • listless

Common phrases 4

  • rousing speech

    Her rousing speech turned sympathy into volunteers.

  • rousing welcome

    The returning team received a rousing welcome at the station.

  • rousing performance

    A rousing performance closed the festival.

  • rousing success

    The repair fair became a rousing success despite the rain.

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Persent101, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated