| Main Entry: | stimulus |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | provocation |
Synonyms: |
bang*, boost, catalyst, cause, charge, encouragement, eye-opener, fillip, fireworks*, flash*, goad, impetus, impulse, incentive, incitation, incitement, inducement, instigation, invitation, kick*, motivation, motive, piquing, propellant, push, shot in the arm, spur, stimulant, stimulation, sting*, turn-on, urging |
| Notes: | a stimulant is a drug; a stimulus is anything encouraging an action (but rarely is it a drug) |
Antonyms: |
discouragement, hindrance, tranquilizer |
| Main Entry: | encouragement |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | help, support |
Synonyms: |
advance, advocacy, aid, animation, assistance, backing, boost, cheer, comfort, confidence, consolation, consoling, easement, enlivening, faith, favor, firmness, fortitude, helpfulness, hope, incentive, incitement, inspiration, inspiritment, invigoration, optimism, promotion, reassurance, reassuring, refreshment, relief, relieving, reward, shot in the arm, softening, solacing, stimulation, stimulus, succor, supporting, trust, urging |
Antonyms: |
denunciation, derision, deterrent, discouragement |
| Main Entry: | excitement |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | enthusiasm; incitement |
Synonyms: |
action, activity, ado, adventure, agitation, animation, bother, buzz*, commotion, confusion, discomposure, disturbance, dither, drama, elation, emotion, excitation, feeling, ferment, fever, flurry, frenzy, furor, fuss, heat*, hubbub, hullabaloo*, hurry, hysteria, impulse, instigation, intoxication, kicks, melodrama, motivation, motive, movement, passion, perturbation, provocation, rage, stimulation, stimulus, stir, thrill, titillation, to-do, trepidation, tumult, turmoil, urge, warmth, wildness |
Antonyms: |
apathy, boredom, calm, calmness, dullness, lull, peace |
| Main Entry: | force |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | physical energy, power |
Synonyms: |
arm, brunt, clout, coercion, compulsion, conscription, constrait, draft, duress, dynamism, effort, enforcement, exaction, extortion, full head of steam, fury, horsepower, impact, impetus, impulse, might, momentum, muscle, pains, potency, potential, pow, pressure, punch, push, sinew, sock, speed, steam, stimulus, strain, strength, stress, strong arm, stuff*, subjection, tension, trouble, velocity, vigor, violence, what it takes |
Antonyms: |
powerlessness, weakness |
| Main Entry: | incentive |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | lure, inducement |
Synonyms: |
allurement, bait, carrot, catalyst, come-on, consideration, determinant, drive, encouragement, enticement, excuse, exhortation, goad, ground, impetus, impulse, incitement, influence, insistence, inspiration, instigation, motivation, motive, persuasion, provocation, purpose, rationale, reason, reason why, spring, spur, stimulant, stimulation, stimulus, temptation, urge, whip |
| Notes: | the temporal orientation of incentive is toward the future; that of inducement is toward the past |
Antonyms: |
block, hindrance, turn-off |
| Main Entry: | inducement |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | incentive, motive |
Synonyms: |
attraction, bait, brainwash*, carrot, cause, come-on, con*, consideration, desire, encouragement, hard sell, hook*, impulse, incitement, influence, leader, lure, reward, snow job, soft soap, spur, stimulus, sweet talk, temptation, twist, urge |
Antonyms: |
discouragement, disincentive, hindrance, prevention |
| Main Entry: | motivation |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | ambition, inspiration |
Synonyms: |
action, actuation, angle, catalyst, desire, disposition, drive, encouragement, fire, get up and go, gimmick, goose, hunger, impetus, impulse, impulsion, incentive, incitation, incitement, inclination, inducement, instigation, interest, kick*, motive, persuasion, predetermination, predisposition, provocation, push, reason, right stuff, spur, stimulus, suggestion, wish |
Antonyms: |
depression, discouragement |
| Main Entry: | motive |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | reason, purpose |
Synonyms: |
aim, antecedent, basis, cause, consideration, design, determinant, drive, emotion, end, feeling, grounds, idea, impulse, incentive, incitement, inducement, influence, inspiration, intent, intention, mainspring, motivation, object, occasion, passion, rationale, root, spring, spur, stimulus, thinking |
Antonyms: |
deterrent, discouragement, hindrance |
| Main Entry: | pick-me-up |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | stimulant |
Synonyms: |
analeptic, catalyst, drug, energizer, incentive, motivation, motive, restorative, reviver, shot in the arm, spark pulg, spur, stimulus, tonic, upper |
| Main Entry: | prompt |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | hint |
Synonyms: |
cue, help, jog, jolt, mnemonic, prod, reminder, spur, stimulus, twit |