as in evokes
to draw out (something hidden, latent, or reserved)
the role elicited the actress's flair for comedy that previous directors had overlooked
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Recent Examples of elicits
The gift that elicits a hug from Farley Webster grew up in Michigan attending Riverside High School in Dearborn Heights, Michigan.
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Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 10 Jan. 2026
The thing that outrages, the thing that shocks, the thing that elicits the greatest response, and the greatest response of all of those emotional reactions is outrage, is fear, is shock, is anger.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2025
Snow-watching elicits a sense of calm and amazement.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 29 Dec. 2025
This dynamism elicits the romantic spirit and purpose behind driving through even the most barren landscapes, where the simultaneous acts of drifting, gazing, and thinking unearth profound emotions.
—Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 19 Dec. 2025
One elicits dread; the other invites admiration.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 18 Dec. 2025
When Jon and Marjorie talk without Tess present, there’s a trace of conspiracy that both endears us to them and elicits our sympathy for poor, fraught Tess.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
There’s no doubt that Swift elicits a strong response one way or the other from much of the listening public.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 2025
The encounter that elicits sheer agency in Hamida is her final one, with Lajo, Ram Chand’s sister.
—JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elicits
Verb
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The Love So Savage campaign showcases the brand’s latest lineup — and evokes Ancient Greek — with a backdrop of grand marble columns and statues.—
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Loktev shot the film on an iPhone, which evokes a casual, intimate vibe — at least until the story accelerates into a thriller.—
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
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The sales pitch rhetoric inspires few.—
Cite this Entry
“Elicits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elicits. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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