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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in provoking
to rouse to strong feeling or action
the government crackdown has only stimulated the citizenry to more acts of violence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stimulating
Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 19 Aug. 2025
While extroverts often perform best in collaborative, energetic spaces, introverts frequently do their most thoughtful work in quieter, less stimulating settings.
—Jennifer Kamara, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
This deepened connection can enhance company culture and loyalty while also stimulating the local economy.
—John Krpan, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stimulating
Adjective
There were also drops in binge drinking, lower scores on alcohol use disorder tests, and reductions in both the stimulating and sedative effects of alcohol.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 19 Aug. 2025
While extroverts often perform best in collaborative, energetic spaces, introverts frequently do their most thoughtful work in quieter, less stimulating settings.
—Jennifer Kamara, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
YouTube and streaming need to be fast and instantly stimulating, while film is slower and more immersive.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
This deepened connection can enhance company culture and loyalty while also stimulating the local economy.
—John Krpan, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stimulating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stimulating
Adjective
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Other exciting territory in The Grand Finale involved Mary’s changing relationship with the other Crawley women.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
-
That’s more exciting to me than last year, when James swept the fiction categories, with even the Pulitzer board overriding their fiction judges to award the big prize to Percival Everett’s novel.—
Maris Kreizman,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Rashid found Chiu’s communication style simple and refreshing.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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The lightweight formula glides on with a refreshing tingle, then rinses away to reveal skin that feels softer, smoother, and more luminous.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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That group, which began on college campuses, quickly drew attention with its provocative events and Kirk’s willingness to debate critics onstage.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Kirk frequently attacked mainstream media and engaged in culture war issues around race, gender and immigration, often in a provocative style.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In fact, studies have found that couples who share novel and arousing activities report greater satisfaction.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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Far from arousing curiosity, the movie forecloses it.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Chris Young’s Beyond Earth column explores the intersection of space technology and policy, providing thought-provoking commentary on the latest advancements and regulatory developments in the sector.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Sep. 2025
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Follow Scheffler for destination stories, travel trends and thought-provoking conversations from the world of travel.—
Daniel Scheffler,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The action sequences keep you on the edge of your seat, and the animation is nothing short of breathtaking.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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This breathtaking image from James Sinclair gives us a detailed view of a section of the sun's atmosphere known as the chromosphere — a chaotic region where hydrogen and helium plasma is molded and reshaped by our star's ever-shifting magnetic field.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
12 Sep. 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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Align Strengths With Challenging Careers Careers like entrepreneurship, law enforcement and military service can be energizing for those who are adaptable and thrive on challenges.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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DeChambeau also delivered a pep talk Saturday night that captain Nathan Smith credited for energizing the team.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stimulating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stimulating. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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