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

Oxygen is a natural stimulant that will help wake you up and clear out some of that fogginess. — The Editors Of Gq, GQ, "How to Cure a Hangover: A Drinker’s Guide to Surviving the Morning After," 29 June 2018 Methamphetamine is a stimulant that in high doses can elevate body temperature and cause convulsions and cardiovascular collapse, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. — Molly Sullivan, sacbee, "Meth overdose caused death of man in Sacramento police custody, autopsy finds," 21 June 2018 Amphetamines are stimulants that the federal Drug Enforcement Administration says can cause increase blood pressure and pulse rates, insomnia, loss of appetite and physical exhaustion. — Doug Phillips, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Pickup driver charged in bus bench crash that led to death, amputation," 4 June 2018 Used judiciously, alcohol can be a stimulant to the sort of work that makes a difference in politics. — The Economist, "Last orders for political drinking," 31 May 2018 Less common, though, is its presence in stimulants like cocaine. — Aubrey Whelan, Philly.com, "West Philadelphia nervously watches as fentanyl kills the unsuspecting," 5 July 2018 Even the market selling khat, a mild stimulant used by most Yemenis, had fallen quiet. — New York Times, "Battles Rage Around International Airport in Strategic Yemeni City," 16 June 2018 In a survey of tens of thousands of people, 14% reported using stimulants at least once in the preceding 12 months in 2017, up from 5% in 2015. — Arran Frood, Scientific American, "Use of “Smart Drugs” on the Rise," 6 July 2018 Unlike with opioids and stimulants, marijuana dependence tends to develop slowly: Months or years may pass before symptoms begin to affect a dependent user’s life. — Washington Post, BostonGlobe.com, "Marijuana addiction is real, and rising, health officials say," 24 June 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.