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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"

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