stimuli

[stim-yuh-lahy] / ˈstɪm yəˌlaɪ /

NOUN

provocation

Synonyms

STRONGEST

catalyst encouragement fillip impetus incentive motivation stimulant stimulation

STRONG

bang boost cause charge fireworks flash goad impulse incitation incitement inducement instigation invitation kick motive propellant push spur sting turn-on urging

WEAK

eye-opener piquing shot in the arm

Antonyms

STRONGEST

block discouragement hindrance

STRONG

deterrent

WEAK

tranquilizer

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At the hospital, one of the officers requested that Cervantes submit to a “subjective sobriety test” that included measuring her eye’s response to stimuli, according to the complaint.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

Gallio and his team found that a key sensory protein involved in detecting harmful stimuli is much less responsive in snow flies than in other insects.

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026

By encoding these digital patterns within the hydrogel, the researchers can program how the smart skin reacts to different stimuli.

From Science Daily • Feb. 6, 2026

But I love the answer that they gave Zosia to give: You can’t possibly take in all of the feelings and the stimuli that the whole world is having right now.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 2025

Multi-part performance of any kind requires the child to focus intensely on their part, training the brain to produce one part while acknowledging additional auditory stimuli coming from the other parts.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin