stimulant

plural stimulants

1. medicineA substance that acts to increase physiological or nervous activity in the body.

   Milk of chameleon was recommended as an erotic stimulant by Avicenna.

   1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 59

   1 more example

   “Uppers” are what’s known as stimulants while “downers” are what is classified as depressants. […] Uppers increased cardiovascular and respiratory functions to dangerous degrees that can overwhelm the body. If you’ve ever felt an adrenaline rush before, you likely felt shaky, weak, or dizzy once it passed. This is similar to what stimulant drug users experience once a stimulant wears off. Feelings of exhaustion and depression set in and users seek more uppers to ward off what’s known as a “crash”.

   2024 April 10 [2020 August 27], Nick B., “Which Drugs Are Uppers And Downers?”, in The Freedom Center

2. Something that promotes activity, interest, or enthusiasm.

   I was never to feel anything comparable under the influence of orthodox religious stimulants.

   1979, Dervla Murphy, Wheels Within Wheels, page 41

   1 more example

   [T]ouching the much vexed question of stimulants he relished a glass of choice old wine in season as both nourishing and bloodmaking and possessing aperient virtues (notably a good burgundy which he was a staunch believer in) […]

   1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[Episode 16: Eumaeus]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC, part III [Nostos], page 571

1. not comparablemedicineActing as a stimulant.