stimulant

[stim-yuh-luhnt]

noun

1. Physiology, Medicine/Medical.,  something that temporarily quickens some vital process or the functional activity of some organ or part.

   Adrenalin is a stimulant for the heart.

2. any food or beverage that stimulates, especially coffee, tea, or, in its initial effect, alcoholic liquor.

3. a stimulus or incentive.

adjective

1. Physiology, Medicine/Medical.,  temporarily quickening some vital process or functional activity.

2. stimulating.

stimulant

/ ˈstɪmjʊlənt /

noun

1. a drug or similar substance that increases physiological activity, esp of a particular organ

2. any stimulating agent or thing

adjective

1. increasing physiological activity; stimulating

stimulant

1. An agent, especially a drug, that causes increased activity, especially of the nervous or cardiovascular systems. Caffeine is a commonly used stimulant.

Other Word Forms

• antistimulant adjective
• nonstimulant noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of stimulant¹

First recorded in 1720–30, stimulant is from the Latin word stimulant- (stem of stimulāns, present participle of stimulāre to goad). See stimulus, -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of stimulant¹

C18: from Latin stimulāns goading, from stimulāre to urge on; see _stimulus

Example Sentences

Of these, about 22,000 hectares are legal -- grown to be chewed as a stimulant, brewed into a tea thought to combat altitude sickness or used in religious rituals.

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At low doses, kratom causes a stimulant effect with users reporting an uptick in energy.

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“When a young person shows up with anxiety after starting a stimulant, that doesn’t mean that they have an anxiety disorder,” he said.

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It has also defended its prescription practices and said providers use their clinical judgment to decide whether to prescribe stimulants to patients.

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So while there can be unpleasant side effects or withdrawal symptoms, antidepressants don’t pose a risk for addiction like opioids or even stimulants.

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Related Words

• catalyst 
• drug 
• impetus 
• stimulus