stimulant

noun

stim·u·lant | \ ˈstim-yə-lənt

Definition of stimulant

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 : stimulus

3 : an alcoholic beverage —not used technically

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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

Having way too much caffeine, nicotine, or some other stimulant can also make your hands shake. — Alison Goldman, SELF, "7 Possible Reasons Your Hands Are Shaking," 21 May 2018 The stimulant laxative works quickly — within two to six hours — so don't take it right before bed. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "The 5 Best Benefits of Castor Oil Are Mostly for Your Hair and Skin," 15 Feb. 2019 Although the popular belief is that stimulants increase jitteriness and nervousness, actual research suggests otherwise: Stimulant medication appear to help kids with ADHD be less anxious. — Philly.com, "Summer break shouldn't always mean a 'drug holiday' for kids with ADHD," 1 June 2018 The hair-growth stimulant-meets-supplement uses a cocktail of marine proteins and vitamins to produce a thicker, healthier head of hair and has found fans in runway stars and backstage hairstylists alike. — Mackenzie Wagoner, Vogue, "The 10 Beauty Products Every Model Has in Her Medicine Cabinet," 22 Aug. 2018 So much for the idea that deficit spending is a stimulant. — Stephen Moore, WSJ, "The Trump Boom Is No Mere ‘Sugar High’," 9 Dec. 2018 Pseudoephedrine, a nasal decongestant, is also a stimulant and is banned from competition. — Umair Irfan, Vox, "Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte broke doping rules. It happens far more than you think.," 24 July 2018 The Food and Drug Administration has cited every major ADHD drug — stimulants like Adderall, Concerta, Focalin and Vyvanse, and nonstimulants like Intuniv and Strattera — for false and misleading advertising since 2000, some multiple times. — Julia Belluz, Vox, "Kids who start kindergarten young are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD," 17 Dec. 2018 Some stimulants can make your hands and feet feel cold due to poor circulation in the extremities, says Dr. Danoff. — Colleen Stinchcombe, Woman's Day, "Why Am I Always Cold?," 16 Oct. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stimulant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.