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View synonyms for stimulant

stimulant

[ stim-yuh-luhnt ]

noun

  1. Physiology, Medicine/Medical. something that temporarily quickens some vital process or the functional activity of some organ or part: Compare depressant ( def 4 ).

    Adrenalin is a stimulant for the heart.

  2. any food or beverage that stimulates, especially coffee, tea, or, in its initial effect, alcoholic liquor.
  3. a stimulus or incentive.


adjective

  1. Physiology, Medicine/Medical. temporarily quickening some vital process or functional activity.

stimulant

/ ˈstɪmjʊlənt /

noun

  1. a drug or similar substance that increases physiological activity, esp of a particular organ
  2. any stimulating agent or thing


adjective

  1. increasing physiological activity; stimulating

stimulant

/ stĭmyə-lənt /

  1. An agent, especially a drug, that causes increased activity, especially of the nervous or cardiovascular systems. Caffeine is a commonly used stimulant.


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Other Words From

  • anti·stimu·lant adjective noun
  • non·stimu·lant noun adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of stimulant1

First recorded in 1720–30, stimulant is from the Latin word stimulant- (stem of stimulāns, present participle of stimulāre to goad). See stimulus, -ant

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Word History and Origins

Origin of stimulant1

C18: from Latin stimulāns goading, from stimulāre to urge on; see stimulus

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Example Sentences

Then there is the nicotine: a stimulant that for the addict also has the added effect of calming the nerves.

What's interesting about the study's finding is that it dodges the trap that snares much of the research on stimulant medication.

Because cigarettes can be either a stimulant or a relaxant, the game has two modes.

For a fuller effect, try a cup of coffee on the side, as caffeine is a traditional and effective stimulant.

This is bad news, since cortisol also acts as an appetite stimulant.

Niopo is a powerful stimulant, a small portion of it producing violent sneezing in persons unaccustomed to its use.

As, during the whole pepper-harvest, they feed wholly on this stimulant, they become exceedingly irritable.

Taken internally, camphor is a nerve stimulant, a diaphoretic and a feeble antipyretic.

But to Charity the heat was a stimulant: it enveloped the whole world in the same glow that burned at her heart.

The stick, or whip, is needed rather to indicate the precise movement desired, than as a stimulant or means of punishment.

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Stimsonstimulate