stimulant

noun

stim·​u·​lant ˈstim-yə-lənt How to pronounce stimulant (audio)
1
: an agent (such as a drug) that produces a temporary increase of the functional activity or efficiency of an organism or any of its parts
2
3
: an alcoholic beverage
not used technically
stimulant adjective

Examples of stimulant in a Sentence

The movie was a stimulant to discussion. the relaxed zoning regulations should serve as a stimulant for development in the area
Recent Examples on the Web In 2021, about 4% of people ages 5 to 54 had filled a prescription for a stimulant in 2021, according to a federal analysis of private insurance records. Deidre McPhillips, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024 For people with functional immune systems, weakened virus is not a problem and is a great stimulant of the immune response, without representing danger of the recipient getting the actual disease caused by the virus. Victoria Forster, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Prosecutors say other texts suggest Gutierrez-Reed was using cocaine as a stimulant on the demanding, high-pressure set. Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2024 The stimulant can be legally purchased in Ontario, Oregon – less than an hour’s drive from Boise. Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 21 Feb. 2024 Like Adderall and caffeine before it, nicotine pouches contain a highly addictive stimulant. Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2024 The man had four active felony warrants for his probation and displayed objective signs and symptoms of being under the influence of a stimulant. Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2024 New prescriptions for stimulants used to treat the condition jumped for young adults and women during a two-year window after the pandemic hit in March 2020, according to a study published Wednesday in JAMA Psychiatry. TIME, 11 Jan. 2024 In addition, patients need to be aware that the risk of overdose rises significantly if using other substances including alcohol, stimulants, and benzodiazepines. Joëlla W. Adams, STAT, 5 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stimulant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stimulant was circa 1728

Dictionary Entries Near stimulant

Cite this Entry

“Stimulant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stimulant. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

stimulant

noun
stim·​u·​lant ˈstim-yə-lənt How to pronounce stimulant (audio)
1
: something (as a drug) that temporarily increases the activity or efficiency of the body or one of its parts
a heart stimulant
2
stimulant adjective

Medical Definition

stimulant

noun
stim·​u·​lant ˈstim-yə-lənt How to pronounce stimulant (audio)
1
: an agent (as a drug) that produces a temporary increase of the functional activity or efficiency of an organism or any of its parts
2

More from Merriam-Webster on stimulant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!