excitant

[ik-sahyt-nt, ek-si-tuhnt]

adjective

1. exciting; excite; stimulating.

noun

1. Physiology.,  something that excites; a stimulant.

excitant

/ ˈɛksɪtənt, ɪkˈsaɪtənt /

adjective

1. able to excite or stimulate

noun

1. something, such as a drug or other agent, able to excite; stimulant

Word History and Origins

Origin of excitant¹

1600–10; < Latin excitant- (stem of excitāns ), present participle of excitāre. See excite, -ant

Example Sentences

Such action may be inhibitory or excitant, according to the views of the one or the other author, without affecting the main question as above stated.

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The excitant is a dilute solution of sulphuric acid.

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The Ainu are gentle and mild by nature, but, like all ignorant people, they are extremely superstitious, and superstition is a powerful excitant.

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These have in their medicine-chests the most powerful excitants, which might give a shock even to a man half-dead: they can deafen you, intoxicate you, make you shudder, or bring tears to your eyes.

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Some nerve excitants known to you act slowly, others quickly; why not others still instantaneously?

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Related Words

• desire 
• feeling 
• inclination 
• influence 
• instinct 
• motivation 
• motive 
• notion 
• passion 
• thought 
• whim 
• wish