stimulating

1. 1
   adjective

   Serving to rouse interest, energy, or activity in the mind or body.

   Like a strong cup of coffee for the mind.

   The panel discussion was stimulating, prompting questions long after it ended.

   Strong coffee has a stimulating effect that makes it harder to fall asleep.

   Similarthought-provoking, invigorating, energizing, inspiring, engaging

   Oppositeboring, dull, tedious, calming

   Note

   A participle that has settled into a true adjective, and the sign is that it grades: more stimulating, most stimulating, a very stimulating talk. The verb form cannot take those. Its range runs from mind to body. Harry E. Wedeck's Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs (1961) calls a spiced chestnut electuary stimulating, and Jeeves blames the "notoriously stimulating" air of North America for the events of 1776.

2. 2
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of stimulate.

   The new tax cuts are stimulating the local economy.

   Stimulating demand was the central goal of the policy.

   Note

   Here the -ing form is still doing a verb's work, so it takes an object: stimulating demand, stimulating the economy. After a form of be it makes the progressive (the cuts are stimulating growth). As a gerund it heads a noun phrase (stimulating demand was the goal). The meaning follows stimulate itself, either urging into action or rousing an organism to activity. An object after it is the quickest sign it is not the adjective.

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