1
as in exciting
causing great emotional or mental stimulation
enjoys the good food and stimulating conversation at his best friend's house
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in refreshing
having a renewing effect on the state of the body or mind
a brisk, stimulating walk on a bright, clear wintry day
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3
as in provocative
serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction
an article containing a stimulating argument for raising, not lowering, the tax on gasoline
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in arousing
to give life, vigor, or spirit to
research into alternative energy sources has been stimulated by this funding increase
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2
as in provoking
to rouse to strong feeling or action
the government crackdown has only stimulated the citizenry to more acts of violence
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stimulating
Lauren O'Connor, Health, 16 June 2025
Lastly, urban environments are inherently stimulating.
—Kissa Castaneda, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Ruth Jessen Hickman, Md, Health, 23 Dec. 2024
Clomid, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, and Letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, both work by signaling FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) in the brain to make more eggs, says Ahmad.
—Fiorella Valdesolo, Vogue, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for stimulating
Adjective
Once consumed, caffeine is quickly absorbed and crosses the blood-brain barrier, which means its stimulating effects can be immediate.1112
7.
—Lauren O'Connor, Health, 16 June 2025
Lastly, urban environments are inherently stimulating.
—Kissa Castaneda, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Verb
These blood tests might include a complete blood count; a metabolic panel; and tests for fasting blood glucose, thyroid stimulating hormone, and vitamin B12 levels.
—Ruth Jessen Hickman, Md, Health, 23 Dec. 2024
Clomid, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, and Letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, both work by signaling FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) in the brain to make more eggs, says Ahmad.
—Fiorella Valdesolo, Vogue, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for stimulating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stimulating
Adjective
-
Replace apprehension with an exciting conversation about what’s possible, and then invest in training and skills development to help your talent thrive in the new AI era.—
Ronald Alepian,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
Golden State looks to bounce back from an exciting 104-102 loss to the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday.—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
When the heat of summer kicks in, few things are more refreshing than biting into a slice of fresh fruit, like watermelon and pineapple.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
10 July 2025
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Switch The Citrus In Your Mojito Recipe Substitute the traditional lime for lemon, orange, grapefruit, tangerine, or a combination of citrus juices for a sweeter variation that’s just as refreshing as the original.—
Claudia Alarcón,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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Such provocative and dangerous moves are the root cause for maritime security issues.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025
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The title, provocative by design, belies a layered comedy that examines modern masculinity, loyalty, and emotional vulnerability.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
17 July 2025
Verb
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This will deepen the divide between the global North and South on issues of race and cultural difference, straining the West’s diplomatic relations with countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America while provoking broader resentment toward Western countries seen as perpetuating racial hierarchies.—
Matias Spektor,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Jan. 2025
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Yet when North Korea invaded South Korea, the United States intervened forcefully, pushing up to the Chinese border and provoking a ferocious Chinese counterattack.—
Michael Beckley,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Set atop a hill with a breathtaking view over the city, Kiyomizu-dera offered us a beautiful blend of history, culture, nature, and spirituality—all in one unforgettable stop.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
14 July 2025
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First images reveal stunning cosmic details The first images show breathtaking views of the Trifid Nebula and Lagoon Nebula, captured over a seven-hour period.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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For context, geomagnetic storms are caused by fiery eruptions from the sun's surface that send charged particles zipping toward our planet.—
Tom Brown,
Space.com,
20 May 2025
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The ceremony came at a charged moment, coinciding with Columbia University canceling its graduation ceremony (and largely closing off its campus).—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
6 May 2024
Verb
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On April 18, the red planet will return to your sign, energizing and revitalizing you after a long retrograde cycle.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
20 Mar. 2025
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On top of the sun energizing your stability-seeking second house of money and values, the moon in Sagittarius highlights everything from your career to your sense of authority.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Thursday’s swings also hit the bond market, which had been showing encouraging signals earlier in the day that stress may be easing.—
Time,
Time,
11 Apr. 2025
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At the time, Meta issued similar guidance, releasing an update that solved the breach and encouraging users to move to the latest version of WhatsApp.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stimulating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stimulating. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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