1
as in incentives
something that arouses action or activity
the relaxed zoning regulations should serve as a stimulant for development in the area
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in liquors
a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk
I always take a bottle of stimulant along on trips, for emergencies like plane crashes or earthquakes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stimulants
Lower birth rates also mean an aging population with fewer economic stimulants, placing a strain on social benefits like Social Security and Medicare.
—
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 12 June 2026
Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and other stimulants before bed.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 10 June 2026
Enter Luxardo‘s new Decaf Espresso Liqueur, made for people who want a boozy buzz unadulterated with any stimulants.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 8 June 2026
Energy drinks are often loaded with caffeine and sugar, along with other stimulants that can put extra strain on the cardiovascular system.
—Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj, CNBC, 4 June 2026
Participating athletes, many of whom are former professionals or Olympians, are allowed to use substances banned by WADA but approved by the FDA including anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, and stimulants.
—T.m. Brown, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
The Enhanced Games also recently released substance-use data from its clinical trial, revealing that 91% of athletes used testosterone, 79% used HGH, 62% used stimulants such as Adderall, 50% used metabolic modulators, 41% used EPO and 29% used anabolic steroids.
—Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026
Caffeine powders, energy drink mixes and juice splashes can pile on stimulants and sugar quickly, especially when stacked together in the same drink.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2026
Doctors in Abu Dhabi would compose an individualized concoction of enhancement drugs for him and many of his fellow athletes, selecting from testosterone, anabolic steroids, growth factors like HGH and EPO, hormone and metabolic modulators, and stimulants like Adderall.
—Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 30 Apr. 2026
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 12 June 2026
Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and other stimulants before bed.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 10 June 2026
Enter Luxardo‘s new Decaf Espresso Liqueur, made for people who want a boozy buzz unadulterated with any stimulants.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 8 June 2026
Energy drinks are often loaded with caffeine and sugar, along with other stimulants that can put extra strain on the cardiovascular system.
—Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj, CNBC, 4 June 2026
Participating athletes, many of whom are former professionals or Olympians, are allowed to use substances banned by WADA but approved by the FDA including anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, and stimulants.
—T.m. Brown, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
The Enhanced Games also recently released substance-use data from its clinical trial, revealing that 91% of athletes used testosterone, 79% used HGH, 62% used stimulants such as Adderall, 50% used metabolic modulators, 41% used EPO and 29% used anabolic steroids.
—Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026
Caffeine powders, energy drink mixes and juice splashes can pile on stimulants and sugar quickly, especially when stacked together in the same drink.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2026
Doctors in Abu Dhabi would compose an individualized concoction of enhancement drugs for him and many of his fellow athletes, selecting from testosterone, anabolic steroids, growth factors like HGH and EPO, hormone and metabolic modulators, and stimulants like Adderall.
—Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stimulants
Noun
-
South Korea’s Serious Accidents Punishment Act holds executives legally accountable for fatal workplace accidents, creating additional incentives for companies to automate potentially hazardous tasks.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
-
The answer comes down to incentives.—
Mark Lewyn,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Bootleggers smuggling various liquors like whiskey and gin found that the soft drink was particularly good at making these spirits easier to drink.—
Andrea Romano,
Travel + Leisure,
9 June 2026
-
Stay Zero Proof, located in Chinatown, doubles as a lounge and retail space — visitors can order from a menu of mocktails or browse a wide selection of non-alcoholic liquors and wines to sip or take home.—
Lauren Schuster,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
All through the park, competitors and onlookers hit vapes and shout tips and encouragements into trees.—
Calin Van Paris,
Outside,
19 Mar. 2026
-
In October 2024 ahead of her own stay at MSG, Billie Eilish recorded encouragements to take the subways for environmental benefits.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Ahead, nutrition experts discuss the best fruits to eat for protein, offering suggestions for adding these sweet sensations to drinks and dishes.—
Randi Gollin,
Martha Stewart,
14 June 2026
-
Seeing the tourist sights in Boston Visitors have spent their time enjoying the city's atmosphere, hot weather, drinks and local food, while also taking in some of Boston's most famous attractions.—
Aaron Parseghian,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
One of the main impetuses for this is that newer planes are flying further, which means airline routes are getting longer.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
Some common culprits include harsh sulfates, which can strip natural oils; high concentrations of drying alcohols; overly aggressive exfoliating acids; and fragrance, especially for sensitive or reactive skin types.—
Kieaundria Bellamy,
InStyle,
29 May 2026
-
This broke the solid waste into soluble monomers and alcohols that later served as hydrogen donors in the reaction.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Sometimes, the nostalgic names come to you in a massive rush, sparked by some sort of visual stimuli, and this Bolton Wanderers shir… sorry, this Panama shirt has done just that.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
-
Libraries are not so great because of the way sound carries, coupled with visual stimuli.—
Sloane Crosley,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Workers repairing a ha-ha, a ditch traditionally used to contain livestock without interrupting the view across an estate, uncovered a tunnel entrance, along with Tudor-era artifacts including pottery, bones, and glass bottles.—
Anne Doran,
ARTnews.com,
15 June 2026
-
Remember to wash and sterilize any bottles, scoops, or mixing containers by running them through the dishwasher or using hot soapy water.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stimulants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stimulants. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
