stimulus

noun

stim·​u·​lus ˈstim-yə-ləs How to pronounce stimulus (audio)
plural stimuli ˈstim-yə-ˌlī How to pronounce stimulus (audio) -ˌlē How to pronounce stimulus (audio)
Synonyms of stimulusnext
: something that rouses or incites to activity: such as
a
: incentive
b
: stimulant sense 1
c
: an agent (such as an environmental change) that directly influences the activity of a living organism or one of its parts (as by exciting a sensory organ or evoking muscular contraction or glandular secretion)

Synonyms

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Examples of stimulus in a Sentence

The pay raise was a stimulus for production. Heat and light are physical stimuli. The dog responded to the stimulus of the ringing bell.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Columbia University Grad Detained by ICE That is more than the popular petition for regular stimulus checks during the COVID pandemice, which had a little more than 3,050,000 signatures at time of publication. — Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025 And, congressional Republicans have in the past expressed their dislike of providing tax cuts such stimulus checks and expanded Child Tax Credit payments to low-income and middle-income households in the past. — Christian Weller, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025 Congress would have to pass a bill to approve the distribution of stimulus checks. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 12 Mar. 2025 Trump gives update on potential buyers What have lawmakers said about DOGE stimulus checks? — Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stimulus

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

1684, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stimulus was in 1684

Rhymes for stimulus

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Browse Nearby Words

stimulus
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Cite this Entry

“Stimulus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stimulus. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

stimulus

noun
stim·​u·​lus ˈstim-yə-ləs How to pronounce stimulus (audio)
plural stimuli -ˌlī How to pronounce stimulus (audio)
-ˌlē
1
: something that rouses or stirs to action : incentive
2
: something (as an environmental change) that acts to partly change bodily activity (as by exciting a sensory organ)
heat, light, and sound are common physical stimuli

Medical Definition

stimulus

noun
stim·​u·​lus ˈstim-yə-ləs How to pronounce stimulus (audio)
plural stimuli -ˌlī How to pronounce stimulus (audio) -ˌlē How to pronounce stimulus (audio)
1
: stimulant sense 1
2
: an agent (as an environmental change) that directly influences the activity of living protoplasm (as by exciting a sensory organ or evoking muscular contraction or glandular secretion)
a visual stimulus

More from Merriam-Webster on stimulus

Nglish: Translation of stimulus for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stimulus

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