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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stimuli
The ability to disconnect intentionally from these overwhelming stimuli—to reclaim one’s focus, clarity, and feeling of immediacy—has become rare and precious.
—
Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 3 June 2026
The method works without heat, UV light, or other external stimuli, which makes manufacturing easier.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 June 2026
Perhaps sensing this, the league trotted out a series of onstage stimuli between picks.
—Dan Greene, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Eliciting disgust, even through unrelated stimuli, can intensify moral judgment.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
This involves some combination of being awake and aware, having internal awareness (such as mental imagery and inner thoughts), and being connected to the world with an ability to perceive stimuli.
—Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 15 May 2026
Multiple performers will create sonic and visual stimuli during the evening.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2026
Migraine Triggers Increase Brain Sensitivity Research indicates that people prone to migraines have a nervous system that reacts more strongly to triggers such as stress, hormones, or sensory stimuli.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 30 Apr. 2026
One study found that sleep deprivation caused the amygdala to react about 60% more strongly to negative stimuli, while simultaneously weakening the brain region that helps regulate those reactions.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 28 Apr. 2026
Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 3 June 2026
The method works without heat, UV light, or other external stimuli, which makes manufacturing easier.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 June 2026
Perhaps sensing this, the league trotted out a series of onstage stimuli between picks.
—Dan Greene, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Eliciting disgust, even through unrelated stimuli, can intensify moral judgment.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
This involves some combination of being awake and aware, having internal awareness (such as mental imagery and inner thoughts), and being connected to the world with an ability to perceive stimuli.
—Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 15 May 2026
Multiple performers will create sonic and visual stimuli during the evening.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2026
Migraine Triggers Increase Brain Sensitivity Research indicates that people prone to migraines have a nervous system that reacts more strongly to triggers such as stress, hormones, or sensory stimuli.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 30 Apr. 2026
One study found that sleep deprivation caused the amygdala to react about 60% more strongly to negative stimuli, while simultaneously weakening the brain region that helps regulate those reactions.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stimuli
Noun
-
These discussions include possible revenue sharing between the data company and village along with tax incentives.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
-
Those changes were designed to reduce incentives for excessive litigation, particularly in insurance claims.—
Contessa Brewer,
CNBC,
8 June 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 12 Jun. 2026.
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