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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stimulus
Seana Dowling-Guyer, an animal behaviorist at Tufts University who was not involved in the research, argues that before tuning into their favorite shows, owners should learn how their pets react to different stimuli, per Science News—presumably to avoid further stressing an already nervous pup.
—
Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 July 2025
Barack Obama hailed the promise of high-speed rail and Democrats approved billions of dollars of funds for the project as part of his economic stimulus program in 2009.
—The Editors, National Review, 18 July 2025
Adolescents are already navigating intense social comparison, and platforms like TikTok or Instagram magnify this by serving up endless stimuli about gym routines, diets, and beauty regimens.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 17 July 2025
Your intellectual and creative sides combine beautifully, making this a prime time to socialize and engage in mental stimuli.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stimulus
Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 July 2025
Barack Obama hailed the promise of high-speed rail and Democrats approved billions of dollars of funds for the project as part of his economic stimulus program in 2009.
—The Editors, National Review, 18 July 2025
Adolescents are already navigating intense social comparison, and platforms like TikTok or Instagram magnify this by serving up endless stimuli about gym routines, diets, and beauty regimens.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 17 July 2025
Your intellectual and creative sides combine beautifully, making this a prime time to socialize and engage in mental stimuli.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stimulus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stimulus
Noun
-
As an example, traditional regulatory efforts tend to be seen as restrictive, while industrial policy typically incorporates enabling incentives to stimulate private or public sector action.—
Paulo Carvão,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
-
Too quick of a shift could lead many aging rice farmers to just retire, while large commercial farms may need more incentives to switch back to producing mainly rice over other crops.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
This served as a mighty impetus to spur the Space Race.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
-
No company ever got into business to lose money, but with mergers like the impending one between Paramount and Skydance, a media company, which was the clear impetus for the settlement with Trump, the bottom line has never been more important.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
Axios reported last month that Trump stopped short of endorsing Rogers during a February dinner at Mar-a-Lago with Republican senators, but offered encouragement.—
M.L. Elrick,
Freep.com,
23 July 2025
-
Others shared words of encouragement and admiration for Savage.—
Colson Thayer,
People.com,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
Being direct with people earns their respect faster than any lecture about motivation.—
Marek Niedzwiedz,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
That has provided motivation for the 21-year-old receiver.—
Sean Hammond,
Chicago Tribune,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stimulus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stimulus. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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