Excitant Meaning: Definition and Examples

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excitant

[ɪkˈsaɪtənt ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

medical

A substance that excites or stimulates an organ, tissue, or part of the body.

Synonyms

activator, stimulant, trigger.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
excitant	Used often in a scientific or medical context to describe substances or factors that cause excitement or stimulation. Typically found in discussions about physiology or neurobiology. Caffeine is considered a mild excitant for the central nervous system
stimulant	Popular in both medical and everyday language to describe substances that increase physiological or nervous activity. Stimulants often refer to drugs or other active substances. Coffee acts as a stimulant, increasing alertness and energy levels
trigger	Often used in everyday language as well as in psychology and medical contexts. Refers to any event, action, or substance that initiates a reaction or response, often abrupt or significant. Seeing a snake can trigger a fear response in many people
activator	Commonly used in scientific, biological, and chemical settings to refer to substances or factors that initiate or increase the activity of certain processes. Enzymes serve as activators in many metabolic reactions

Examples of usage

Scientists are researching the effects of different excitants on the central nervous system.
The excitant caused an increase in heart rate and blood pressure.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

literary

Something that arouses interest, enthusiasm, or excitement.

Synonyms

inspiration, motivator, stimulus.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
stimulus	Typically used in scientific, economic, or physiological contexts to describe something that causes a reaction or change. The government introduced a stimulus package to boost the economy. Light acts as a stimulus for the plant to grow.
motivator	Refers to something or someone that provides a reason or encouragement to do something, often in a work or personal development context. Money can be a strong motivator for employees. He served as a motivator for the team during the tough project.
inspiration	Often relates to creative or intellectual stimulation and the ability to think or do something new or different. The artist found inspiration in nature for his latest painting. Her speech was a great source of inspiration for many.

Word

Description / Examples

stimulus

Typically used in scientific, economic, or physiological contexts to describe something that causes a reaction or change.

The government introduced a stimulus package to boost the economy.
Light acts as a stimulus for the plant to grow.

motivator

Refers to something or someone that provides a reason or encouragement to do something, often in a work or personal development context.

Money can be a strong motivator for employees.
He served as a motivator for the team during the tough project.

inspiration

Often relates to creative or intellectual stimulation and the ability to think or do something new or different.

The artist found inspiration in nature for his latest painting.
Her speech was a great source of inspiration for many.

Examples of usage

The novel was an excitant for her passion for reading.
His speech served as an excitant for social change.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

obsolete

A person or thing that stimulates or provokes action or reaction.

Synonyms

incentive, inciter, instigator.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
excitant	Used mainly in scientific or medical contexts to refer to a substance that stimulates or activates a physiological response. Caffeine acts as an excitant, increasing alertness and energy levels. The doctor prescribed an excitant to help improve his sluggish metabolism.
inciter	Often used negatively, it refers to a person or thing that stirs up strong feelings or prompts someone to take an action, usually towards something harmful or controversial. The leader was accused of being an inciter of violence during the protests. He was seen as an inciter, always pushing others towards risky behaviors.
instigator	Used to describe someone who initiates an action or event, it can have a negative connotation especially when referring to causing trouble or conflict. The police identified the instigator behind the vandalism spree. She was the instigator of the idea to start a charity event.
incentive	Refers to something that motivates or encourages someone to take action, often used in economic or workplace environments. The company offered a financial incentive to employees who reached their sales targets. Tax incentives are provided to businesses that adopt eco-friendly practices.

Examples of usage

In the past, poets were considered excitants of the imagination.

Interesting Facts

Science

In pharmacology, an excitant is often a substance that increases activity in the nervous system, like caffeine.
Certain excitants are known to release neurotransmitters that can enhance mood or alertness.
Exercise can be considered a natural excitant as it increases adrenaline and endorphins, leading to a feeling of euphoria.

Psychology

Excitants can trigger emotional responses, often linked to the release of dopamine, which is associated with pleasure and reward.
The concept of excitants is often explored in behavioral psychology, where certain stimuli can lead to increased motivation.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) uses excitant principles to help individuals find positive stimuli that can alleviate feelings of depression.

Cultural References

In popular culture, many action-packed films are designed to be excitants, keeping the audience engaged and thrilled.
Festivals and concerts are social excitants, creating an atmosphere that energizes participants through music and celebration.
Red Bull, the energy drink, brands itself as an excitant lifestyle by promoting adventure and extreme sports.

Origin of 'excitant'

Main points about word origin

The word 'excitant' comes from the Latin word 'excitare,' which means to awaken or call forth.
This term has been used in scientific contexts since the late 19th century to describe substances that stimulate reactions in the body or mind.
The prefix 'ex-' means 'out of' or 'from,' while 'citant' relates to calling or summoning, reflecting the idea of something that brings feelings or responses to light.

The word 'excitant' originated from the Latin word 'excitare', which means 'to rouse, provoke'. It was first used in English around the 17th century. Over time, 'excitant' has been used in various contexts, including medical, literary, and obsolete descriptions. The term is commonly associated with substances that have stimulating effects on the body or things that arouse interest or enthusiasm.