stimulants

noun

plural of stimulant
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

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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 Most pair stimulants like caffeine or paraxanthine with focus-support compounds like L-theanine, citicoline and rhodiola, plus adaptogens like lion’s mane and ashwagandha. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2026 Formulas vary widely, but most pair stimulants with focus compounds and adaptogens. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026 Between 2020 and 2024, nearly 40% of overdose deaths in Colorado involved both opioids and stimulants. — Joshua Barocas, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026 As a practicing psychiatrist, Lembke routinely prescribes stimulants for ADHD, opioids for pain and benzodiazepines for insomnia and anxiety. — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026 Energy drinks are not designed to treat dehydration and often contain sugar and stimulants that may worsen symptoms. — Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 17 Sep. 2026 And just as chemical stimulants such as caffeine and Adderall can interfere with sleep, so, too, can excessive meditation. — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026 These prescription stimulants can sharpen focus by prompting the brain to release more neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine, which play an important role in the body’s fight-or-flight response. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026 Cases where a patient is malnourished are challenging, because research has shown putting in a feeding tube or giving them appetite stimulants doesn’t improve their outcomes, Lee said. — Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 9 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stimulants
  1. incentives
  2. liquors
  3. encouragements
  4. drinks
  5. impetuses
  6. alcohols
  7. stimuli
  8. bottles
Noun
  • The fund plans to acquire stakes in audiovisual companies and provide financing for individual productions, including participatory loans tied to presales, distribution agreements and tax incentives, as well as gap financing.
    — Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Check whether individual and departmental incentives support the company’s broader objectives or encourage people to optimize at one another’s expense.
    — Dr. Nore Salman, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of incentives
Noun
  • The hotel’s commitment to showing off local, small-batch liquors means that all standard cocktails, as well as most of the signature drinks offered at its three bars, feature in-state whiskeys, vodkas, gins, and bourbons as a base.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The Spirits That Work Best in Salty Drinks Generally, light liquors including gin, tequila, and vodka are the best builders for these cocktails and infusions, says Harris.
    — Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of liquors
Noun
  • Many folks send encouragements toward OP mom and her son, while others put heat on the other parents for sexualizing their kids’ friendship.
    — DeVonne Goode, Parents, 26 July 2026
  • All through the park, competitors and onlookers hit vapes and shout tips and encouragements into trees.
    — Calin Van Paris, Outside, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of encouragements
Noun
  • Unlike supplements or drinks that may provide a quick burst of energy followed by a crash, the nutrients found in almonds provide a more sustained source of fuel—slowing digestion and prolonging steady energy without the blood sugar level spikes.
    — Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Ethanol from alcoholic drinks, limonene from citrus, and diacetyl from buttery aromas are some of the VOCs that can produce these reactions.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of drinks
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
Definition of impetuses
Noun
  • According to the scientists, the method achieved some of the highest production rates yet for valuable alcohols and three- and four-carbon atoms.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
  • For example, a gold catalyst leads to the production of carbon monoxide (CO), while copper produces more complex compounds including alcohols, ethanol and methane (CH4).
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of alcohols
Noun
  • Visual stimuli produced more activity in the superficial layers of the superior colliculus.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Researchers have studied how certain facial and auricular stimuli interact with parasympathetic activity.
    — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of stimuli
Noun
  • Common areas also include a lively lobby bar and cigar room for pours and puffs, respectively, as well as an impressive wine list with bottles sourced from all over the world.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The set includes a clear case and four reusable silicone bottles with wide mouths designed to be filled easily and dispense product smoothly without making a mess.
    — Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of bottles

Browse Nearby Words

stimulant
stimulants
stimulate
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Cite this Entry

“Stimulants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stimulants. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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