SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
stimulus
noun
Something that prompts a response, action, or increased activity.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Prompt to response
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topA stimulus prompts a response. An incentive supplies a reason or reward for acting; input is broader and may produce no noticeable response.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See stimulus in use
The unexpected question provided a stimulus for a more productive discussion.
A blank space on a neighborhood map became a stimulus for residents to record the paths they used between shared gardens.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license