stimulating

[ stim-yuh-ley-ting ]

adjective

1. causing interest, inspiration, or incitement to action:

   We offer a stimulating work environment with lots of opportunity for growth.

2. inciting; acting as a cause:

   Rapid technological change is described by some authors as a stimulating factor in the decline of traditional ways of growing food.

3. having the property of exciting a nerve, gland, etc., to its functional activity:

   This plant tincture has a stimulating effect on the liver, spleen, and digestive system.

Other Words From

• stim·u·lat·ing·ly adverb
• non·stim·u·lat·ing adjective
• self-stim·u·lat·ing adjective
• sem·i·stim·u·lat·ing adjective
• un·stim·u·lat·ing adjective
• un·stim·u·lat·ing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of stimulating¹

First recorded in 1640–50; stimulate ( def ) + -ing ²( def )

Example Sentences

In 2022, Duke researchers, backed by the National Institutes of Health, began investigating whether stimulating the vagus nerve could affect SUMOylation and set off a natural anti-inflammatory response that calms immune responses and reduces inflammation.

From Science Daily

"Stimulating the vagus nerve neutralized the effects of stress and restored a balanced and healthy physiologic state," said Ulloa, a Duke researcher, the leading andcorresponding author of the study.

From Science Daily

The test, which uses less than a quarter teaspoon of blood, works by stimulating the target T cells in the blood to release chemical signals, called cytokines, through which the quantity and quality of the target T cells can be measured.

From Science Daily

The Fed eventually wants to get to a point where interest rates are neither stimulating nor restricting the economy, as they are now.

From Los Angeles Times

“She will take a piece of text and really chew it and argue it. It’s very stimulating. And it’s lovely to have that kind of working relationship where you just understand what’s needed and how you’re going to find things.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• appealing
• challenging
• exhilarating
• hectic
• inspiring
• interesting
• invigorating
• lively
• provocative
• thought-provoking
• thrilling