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
Akshay Syal, NBC news, 9 Feb. 2026
Gates has assembled a stimulating, illuminating, maddening, saddening, but often inspiring, story of their relations with the world and one another.
—Robert Lloyd, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
Nicole Hernandez, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
The skin care tool is trending for its scalp-stimulating benefits.
—Fiona Ward, Glamour, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stimulating
Adjective
Isaacson sometimes recommends his patients even try a cognitively stimulating activity while exercising, such as taking a meeting while walking or doing cognitive training on a stationary bike.
—Akshay Syal, NBC news, 9 Feb. 2026
Gates has assembled a stimulating, illuminating, maddening, saddening, but often inspiring, story of their relations with the world and one another.
—Robert Lloyd, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
Current evidence suggests this works by encouraging blood flow to the scalp and stimulating hair follicles, according to the American Hair Loss Association.
—Nicole Hernandez, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
The skin care tool is trending for its scalp-stimulating benefits.
—Fiona Ward, Glamour, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stimulating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stimulating
Adjective
-
The oil control remains an exciting proposition to control excess shine today for an intelligent matte coverage that adjusts with you.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Amazon's Spring Sale is almost at an end, but there are still some exciting deals for you!—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Set the scene Soaring at 1,000 feet above sea level on the St James hills, just a 10-minute drive from the heat and bustle of the west coast’s towns and beaches, Apes Hill offers a refreshing breeze and views of both the Caribbean and Atlantic.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The mint julep is simple, refreshing, and perfect for bourbon cocktail lovers.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The widespread reach of social media has brought videos of war zones and the voices of people living through wars to global audiences, but often provocative images and videos that lack context can spread and be reshared in ways that further strip away context and nuance.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Reportedly shunned by festivals like Sundance and SXSW last year and ignored by distributors, this provocative chamber drama finally gets a theatrical release from a fledgling shingle, Obscured Releasing, this spring.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
No clear catalyst One reason the surge in oil futures trading is arousing suspicion is that no market-moving announcements were slated for Monday morning, such as government economic releases or speeches from Federal Reserve officials.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
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To avoid arousing suspicion, the mission was primarily carried out by ground forces with limited air support from helicopters, Trevilla said.—
Gonzalo Zegarra,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Those forces may give the president more leverage in his negotiations, but also risk fueling Tehran's resentment and provoking a harsher response, analysts say.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Women and girls are asked to imagine themselves as a river, provoking powerful reflection on the culture of gender in post-Soviet Asia.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The resulting works were breathtaking, immersing the viewer in luminous veils of paint that swept across the canvas, seeming to splash back up from the bottom, creating an enveloping sense of tranquility and awe that pushed against the jittery energy of Abstract Expressionism.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
26 Mar. 2026
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Finally, the GoPro Hero13 Black is 16% off, providing breathtaking resolution for your next adventure.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
At a charged political moment, her relatively sober look seemed intended to keep the focus on POTUS.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
12 Dec. 2025
-
What Happens Next Greene is likely to continue stoking controversy by breaking with her party, as conversations around immigration remain charged and divisive.—
Alia Shoaib,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Then, the spotlight shifts onto your ambitions, with Mars entering Aries on April 9, energizing your 10th house of boss moves and reputation, followed by a new moon that sets the stage for a fresh start in your career.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Entering a key recruiting time, his return figures to have the impact of both stabilizing and energizing the program that has sagged in its last four NCAA Tournaments since winning the 2022 national title.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stimulating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stimulating. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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