stimulating

/ˈstɪmjuleɪtɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈstɪmjuleɪtɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈstim-yə-ˌlā-tiŋ/ (ame, mw)

stimulating — 形容詞

  • stimulatingpositive
  • more stimulatingcomparative
  • most stimulatingsuperlative

1. describes something such as a book, conversation, or class that makes you think

1.形容詞B1
釋義

啟發的

引發新想法或興趣

describes something such as a book, conversation, or class that makes you think in a new or deeper way, often by offering fresh ideas or questioning what you already believe

例句

The professor's lecture on climate science was so stimulating that Amara spent the whole evening reading more about it.

教授關於氣候科學的講座非常啟發人心，Amara 花了整個晚上閱讀更多相關資料。

be + so stimulating + that-clause

Diego finds crossword puzzles stimulating because they make him think about words from unusual angles.

Diego 覺得填字遊戲很啟發思考，因為這些遊戲讓他從不常見的角度思考詞彙。

find + noun + stimulating

同義詞
  • thought-provoking

    emphasises that something makes you think hard or question your assumptions

  • inspiring

    stronger emotional effect; makes you want to create or act, not just think

  • challenging

    suggests difficulty that pushes you to improve your understanding

反義詞
  • boring

    completely fails to hold interest or spark thought

  • dull

    lacks any interesting or exciting qualities

文法句型

stimulating + noun

be + stimulating

stimulating to + infinitive

用法筆記

Frequently used with nouns related to thought and discussion: conversation, debate, lecture, discussion, book, article, idea.

常見錯誤

❌I found the book very stimulated.
✅I found the book very stimulating.
💡'Stimulated' describes how a person feels; 'stimulating' describes the thing that produces the feeling.
❌The class was very stimulative.
✅The class was very stimulating.
💡'Stimulative' is very rare and sounds unnatural; 'stimulating' is the standard adjective form.

2. describes a person whose manner, conversation, or presence makes you feel more e

2.形容詞B2
釋義

激勵的

讓人充滿熱情創意

describes a person whose manner, conversation, or presence makes you feel more excited, creative, and full of new ideas — for example, a teacher who pushes students to think for themselves or a friend whose energy lifts your mood

例句

Yuki is one of the most stimulating people I know — her chats always leave me full of new ideas.

Yuki 是我認識最激勵人心的人之一——和她聊天總是讓我充滿新點子。

most stimulating [person] — superlative for people

The new manager proved a stimulating presence; her sharp questions pushed the whole team to improve.

新主管展現出激勵人心的領導風格；她尖銳的問題推動了整個團隊進步。

stimulating presence — noun collocation for people

同義詞
  • inspiring

    places more weight on emotional uplift; a stimulating teacher challenges your mind, an inspiring teacher moves your heart

  • motivating

    focuses on pushing you to take action rather than just think or feel

  • charismatic

    emphasises personal charm and natural ability to attract and influence people

反義詞
  • uninspiring

    fails to create any excitement or motivation

文法句型

stimulating + person-noun

be + stimulating

用法筆記

Used almost exclusively about people, never about objects or activities. Subject is a person whose interaction with others creates enthusiasm.

常見錯誤

❌I felt very stimulating after the meeting.
✅I felt very stimulated after the meeting.
💡Feeling the effect yourself uses 'stimulated'; being the cause uses 'stimulating.'

3. describes an activity, substance, or physical sensation that makes your body or

3.形容詞B2
釋義

提神的

使身體或感官活躍

describes an activity, substance, or physical sensation that makes your body or senses become more awake and active — for example, exercise that gets your blood moving, a massage that wakes up your muscles, or cold air that sharpens your alertness

例句

After sitting at her computer all morning, Nalini found a brisk ten-minute walk very stimulating.

在電腦前坐了一整個早上後，Nalini 發現快走十分鐘非常提神。

find + activity + stimulating (physical renewal)

The cold water of the mountain stream was stimulating against Kenji's skin as he waded across it.

山澗溪水的冰涼感讓 Kenji 在涉水而過時感到精神一振。

同義詞
  • invigorating

    implies a feeling of renewed strength and freshness, especially after tiredness

  • refreshing

    focuses on restoring energy and alertness after being tired or hot

  • energising

    the closest synonym, but slightly more informal and general

反義詞
  • sedating

    causes calmness or sleepiness

  • relaxing

    reduces rather than increases physical activity

文法句型

stimulating + noun

be + stimulating

have a stimulating effect on

用法筆記

Object or subject is typically a physical activity, substance, or sensory input (exercise, massage, caffeine, cold, music). Distinguish from sense 1 (mental) and sense 2 (interpersonal) — if it wakes up your body or senses rather than your mind, use this sense.

常見錯誤

❌This medicine has a stimulated effect.
✅This medicine has a stimulating effect.
💡'Stimulated' is a past participle describing a person who received stimulation; 'stimulating' is an adjective describing the thing that causes it.