stimulant
noun
stim·u·lant
ˈstim-yə-lənt 
1
: an agent (such as a drug) that produces a temporary increase of the functional activity or efficiency of an organism or any of its parts
2
: stimulus
3
: an alcoholic beverage
—not used technically
stimulant
adjective
Examples of stimulant in a Sentence
The movie was a stimulant to discussion.
the relaxed zoning regulations should serve as a stimulant for development in the area
Recent Examples on the Web
Doctors in Abu Dhabi would compose an individualized concoction of enhancement drugs for him and many of his fellow athletes, selecting from testosterone, anabolic steroids, growth factors like HGH and EPO, hormone and metabolic modulators, and stimulants like Adderall.
—
Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 30 Apr. 2026
Wall Street bankers have been known to lean on Adderall and other stimulants to be more productive, while Silicon Valley executives microdose on ketamine or use psychedelics to be more creative.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
As a result, the rivers and lakes have become a chemical soup of antidepressants, birth control, and stimulants.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 Apr. 2026
Cathinone is a stimulant that occurs naturally in khat, a plant native to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and has a molecular structure nearly identical to that of amphetamine.
—Jonathan Corum, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stimulant
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.
Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 30 Apr. 2026
Wall Street bankers have been known to lean on Adderall and other stimulants to be more productive, while Silicon Valley executives microdose on ketamine or use psychedelics to be more creative.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
As a result, the rivers and lakes have become a chemical soup of antidepressants, birth control, and stimulants.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 Apr. 2026
Cathinone is a stimulant that occurs naturally in khat, a plant native to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and has a molecular structure nearly identical to that of amphetamine.
—Jonathan Corum, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stimulant
Cite this Entry
“Stimulant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stimulant. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stimulant
noun
stim·u·lant
ˈstim-yə-lənt
1
: something (as a drug) that temporarily increases the activity or efficiency of the body or one of its parts
a heart stimulant
2
stimulant
adjective
Medical Definition
stimulant
noun
stim·u·lant
ˈstim-yə-lənt
1
: an agent (as a drug) that produces a temporary increase of the functional activity or efficiency of an organism or any of its parts
2
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
