stimulus

noun

ˈstim-yə-ləs How to pronounce stimulus (audio)
Definition of stimulusnext
as in incentive
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

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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 stimulus Make sure to practice a full range of motion with these and emphasize the eccentric (the way down) part of the movement for maximal time under tension and muscle-building stimulus. — Jakob Roze, HEALTH, 19 Aug. 2026 Between these stimuli, strange thoughts move through my semi-conscious mind, the kind of free association that feels normal in sleep and bizarre in life. — Veronique Greenwood, Time, 18 Aug. 2026 Following the onset of the pandemic, the massive stimulus that Congress passed in March 2020 showed what governments could deliver when the global economy was on the line. — Jennifer Pahlka, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 Those include Japan’s massive debt that exceeds 200% of GDP, fiscal stimulus that’s expected to worsen the deficit, and a central bank that’s been slow to raise rates in the face of high inflation. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stimulus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stimulus
  1. incentive
  2. impetus
  3. encouragement
  4. motivation
Noun
  • Investors are also betting on a future DeepSeek listing in the mainland, said Wayne Shiong, managing partner at Argo Venture Partners, as the startup risks an exodus of senior engineers without financial incentives to stay.
    — Anniek Bao,Elaine Yu, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Instead, the law provides the city with an incentive to dangle before the team.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of incentive
Noun
  • The impetus was Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, which contains gory scenes that are definitely too intense for young kids but more appropriate for teens, and thus, the PG-13 rating was born.
    — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The maintenance needed on the 368,000 miles of roads in America’s national forests was one impetus for the Roadless Rule in 2001.
    — Patrick Parenteau, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of impetus
Noun
  • Angela recalled him providing clothing, shoes and money to people experiencing homelessness, along with the words of encouragement that came naturally to him.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
  • As captured by a parent, a note that Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library sent to its graduates includes kind words and encouragement from the star.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of encouragement
Noun
  • The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 ranks EI skills like resilience, flexibility, agility, leadership, social influence, motivation, and self-awareness as among the top ten most desirable skills.
    — Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The Whisper Man director James Ashcroft explains the motivations of the film’s serial killer antagonist.
    — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of motivation

Browse Nearby Words

stimuli
stimulus
sting
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Cite this Entry

“Stimulus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stimulus. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on stimulus

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stimulus

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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