galvanize

12 synonyms for galvanize, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To cover something with a layer of metal using an electric current.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

fire

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

zinc ignite awaken

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

galvanise startle enflame enkindle electrify exhilarate excite animate

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To cover something with a layer of metal using an electric current.

galvanise startle

2. verb

To cover metal with zinc, using electricity, so that it will not rust.

“We then galvanize the steel so that the zinc coating will sacrificially take the corrosion for many years.”

zinc

3. verb

To suddenly push someone into action, as though giving them a jolt.

“The girl’s picture helped galvanize public opinion against the administration’s policy.”

fire enflame enkindle electrify exhilarate ignite excite awaken animate

Etymology

A learned borrowing from French galvaniser; by surface analysis, made up of galvano- and -ize. It is named after the Italian physiologist Luigi Aloisio Galvani (1737–1798).

Full origin of galvanize →

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fire zinc awaken ignite excite animate enflame exhilarate enkindle startle electrify

Nearby words

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