stimulant

noun stim·u·lant \ ˈstim-yə-lənt \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

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

—

stimulant

adjective

See stimulant defined for English-language learners

See stimulant defined for kids

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 of stimulant from the Web

Some people’s brains may be naturally prone to RCVS, but it can also be caused by some medications (including birth control pills), marijuana, or illicit drugs like cocaine and other stimulants.

— amanda macmillan, Health.com, "A Man Developed 'Thunderclap Headaches' After He Ate the World's Hottest Pepper. Here's What That Means," 10 Apr. 2018
Kratom is a plant supplement sold to treat pain, to help people stop using opioids or as a stimulant.

— NBC News, "FDA forces mandatory recall of kratom, says it's a first," 3 Apr. 2018
The prunes were a lo-fi addition to a roster of gut health aids that included fiber cubes from France, herbal teas, and various drugstore stimulants.

— julie schott, The Cut, "If You Want Clear Skin, Look at Your Poop," 19 Mar. 2018
Drinking green tea and matcha are considered healthy and safe, but people sensitive to caffeine should be aware that both contain decent amounts of the stimulant.

— alexandra sifferlin, Time, "Should You Drink Matcha Tea?," 8 Mar. 2018
Cuyahoga County is not immune to a recent resurgence of the powerful stimulant across the nation.

— evan macdonald, cleveland.com, "Methamphetamine's prevalence increased last year in Cuyahoga County, medical examiner says," 14 Feb. 2018
But the stimulant has returned, in part because as the ingredients became more difficult to acquire in the United States, Mexican drug cartels took over to fill the market with pure, low-cost meth, Frances reports.

— Washington Post, "The Health 202: Planned Parenthood goes on the offense," 14 Feb. 2018
Increases in overdose death rates for cocaine and stimulants (like methamphetamine) also increased, by just over 52 percent and 33 percent, respectively.

— dennis thompson, chicagotribune.com, "'It's getting exponentially worse': Fentanyl behind latest spike in opioid overdose deaths," 29 Mar. 2018
It's also used as an appetite stimulant and to treat chronic pain.

— laurel andrews, Anchorage Daily News, "Cannabis for dogs? A look behind the CBD pet treat trend," 20 Mar. 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.

First Known Use of stimulant

circa 1728

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

stimulant Synonyms

Phrases

shot in the arm;

STIMULANT Defined for English Language Learners

stimulant

noun

Definition of stimulant for English Language Learners

: something (such as a drug) that makes you more active or gives you more energy
: something that causes more activity

STIMULANT Defined for Kids

stimulant

noun stim·u·lant \ ˈsti-myə-lənt \

Definition of stimulant for Students

1 : something (as a drug) that makes the body or one of its parts temporarily more active

a heart stimulant

2 : stimulus 1

stimulant

adjective

Definition of stimulant for Students

: stimulating or tending to stimulate

Medical Dictionary

stimulant

noun stim·u·lant \ ˈstim-yə-lənt \

medical Definition of stimulant

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 : stimulus 2

Learn More about stimulant

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for stimulant Spanish Central: Translation of stimulant Nglish: Translation of stimulant for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of stimulant for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stimulant

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up stimulant? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

stimulant

Definition of stimulant

stimulant

Examples of stimulant in a Sentence

Recent Examples of stimulant from the Web

First Known Use of stimulant

stimulant Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases

STIMULANT Defined for English Language Learners

stimulant

Definition of stimulant for English Language Learners

STIMULANT Defined for Kids

stimulant

Definition of stimulant for Students

stimulant

Definition of stimulant for Students

Medical Dictionary

stimulant

medical Definition of stimulant

Learn More about stimulant

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

'Complement' vs. 'Compliment'

Trending: HRC: Media Opened Door to 'Charlatans'

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes