as in incentives
something that arouses action or activity
seeing a Broadway play for the first time was the stimulus for her career in the theater
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 stimuli
Being in an unfamiliar place, getting poor sleep, and constant stimuli from lights and noise all contribute to delirium.
—
Torie Bosch, STAT, 11 Apr. 2026
Patapoutian won the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering the role PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 proteins play in sensing mechanical stimuli.
—Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 10 Apr. 2026
To check whether progesterone was the trigger, the researchers removed the female from the barrier tank and replaced her with conical plastic tubes coated with various chemical stimuli, sliding them into the small holes of the wall divider.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 2 Apr. 2026
These materials can change shape in response to external stimuli such as heat or electricity, offering more efficient and compact actuation.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Mar. 2026
The go-for-broke concept, which includes a high-tech heist, a high-speed truck chase and a massive explosion of Cheetos dust, shows the levels to which marketers must ascend to capture consumer attention in media venues that constantly offer new stimuli.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
Right from his beginnings with the Talking Heads, Byrne’s quizzical temperament has fueled a determination both to never resist change and to remain open to all kinds of external stimuli.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Increasingly, innovators are exploring how sound, vibration, and other physical stimuli might support natural physiological processes.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
The failure of Carbonarism was one of the stimuli prompting Giuseppe Mazzini to seek a new outlet for Italian discontent.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Mar. 2026
Torie Bosch, STAT, 11 Apr. 2026
Patapoutian won the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering the role PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 proteins play in sensing mechanical stimuli.
—Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 10 Apr. 2026
To check whether progesterone was the trigger, the researchers removed the female from the barrier tank and replaced her with conical plastic tubes coated with various chemical stimuli, sliding them into the small holes of the wall divider.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 2 Apr. 2026
These materials can change shape in response to external stimuli such as heat or electricity, offering more efficient and compact actuation.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Mar. 2026
The go-for-broke concept, which includes a high-tech heist, a high-speed truck chase and a massive explosion of Cheetos dust, shows the levels to which marketers must ascend to capture consumer attention in media venues that constantly offer new stimuli.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
Right from his beginnings with the Talking Heads, Byrne’s quizzical temperament has fueled a determination both to never resist change and to remain open to all kinds of external stimuli.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Increasingly, innovators are exploring how sound, vibration, and other physical stimuli might support natural physiological processes.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
The failure of Carbonarism was one of the stimuli prompting Giuseppe Mazzini to seek a new outlet for Italian discontent.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stimuli
Noun
-
The Good Jobs First report recommends that all states fully report their losses from data center tax breaks, including how those incentives affect local revenue streams.—
Kevin Hardy,
Baltimore Sun,
20 Apr. 2026
-
While the sales increases in some cases were aided by tax incentives and new emissions rules, the figures point to how global fleets are rapidly electrifying in response to the war in Iran.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
20 Apr. 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
Cite this Entry
“Stimuli.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stimuli. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
