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

While this stimulant affects everyone differently, generally steer clear of it at least six hours before bed, says Jaclyn London, MS, RD, CDN, Nutrition Director at the Good Housekeeping Institute. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "15 Ways to Sleep Better Tonight, According to Experts," 2 May 2019 The school had labeled the boy as having attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder and urged the parents to see a psychiatrist—who immediately prescribed a stimulant. — Erica Komisar, WSJ, "We’re Overmedicating Our Children," 6 Mar. 2019 Many teas, sodas, and types of chocolate also provide this stimulant. — Korin Miller, SELF, "Is Coffee Actually Dehydrating?," 6 Mar. 2019 Two other stimulants, BMPEA and oxilofrine, were found in many of the supplements. — Sumathi Reddy, WSJ, "The Illegal Ingredients in Your Dietary Supplements," 22 Oct. 2018 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

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.