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Adjective: stimulating  'sti-myu,ley-ting
  1. That stimulates
    "stimulating phenomena";
    - stimulant
     
  2. Making lively and cheerful
    "the stimulating effect of mountain air";
    - exhilarating
     
  3. Rousing or quickening activity or the senses
    "a stimulating discussion"
Verb: stimulate  'sti-myu,leyt
  1. Act as a stimulant
    "This play stimulates"; "The book stimulated her imagination";
    - excite
     
  2. Make someone or something act in a particular way or do a particular thing
    - induce, cause, have, get, make
     
  3. Excite the feelings or emotions of; disturb the peace of
    "These stories stimulated the community";
    - shake, shake up, excite, stir
     
  4. Cause to be alert and energetic
    "Coffee and tea stimulate me"; "This herbal infusion doesn't stimulate";
    - arouse, brace, energize, energise [Brit], perk up
     
  5. Cause to occur rapidly
    - induce, rush, hasten, accelerate, speed up
     
  6. Arouse feelings in
    "stimulate my appetite";
    - excite, stir
     
  7. Provide the needed stimulus for
    - provoke

See also: challenging, exciting, interesting, invigorating, moving, piquant, rousing, salty [informal], stimulative, stirring, thought-provoking, thrilling

Type of: affect, arouse, bear on, bear upon, challenge, effect, effectuate, elicit, enkindle [literary], evoke, fire, impact, kindle, provoke, raise, sensitise [Brit], sensitize, set up, touch, touch on

Antonym: stifle, unstimulating

Encyclopedia: Stimulate