What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Stimulate vs Regulate - What's the difference?

stimulate | regulate |

As verbs the difference between stimulate and regulate

is that stimulate is to encourage into action while regulate is to dictate policy.

stimulate

English

Verb

(stimulat)
  • To encourage into action.
  • To arouse an organism to functional activity.
  • Synonyms

    * (encourage) encourage, induce, provoke * (arouse) animate, arouse, energize, energise, excite, perk up

    Antonyms

    * (arouse) de-energize, sedate, stifle

    Anagrams

    * * ----

    regulate

    English

    Verb

    (regulat)
  • To dictate policy.
  • To control or direct according to rule, principle, or law.
  • * Macaulay
  • the laws which regulate the successions of the seasons
  • * Bancroft
  • The herdsmen near the frontier adjudicated their own disputes, and regulated their own police.
  • To adjust to a particular specification or requirement: regulate temperature.
  • To adjust (a mechanism) for accurate and proper functioning.
  • to regulate a watch, i.e. adjust its rate of running so that it will keep approximately standard time
    to regulate the temperature of a room, the pressure of steam, the speed of a machine, etc.
  • To put or maintain in order.
  • to regulate the disordered state of a nation or its finances
    to regulate one's eating habits

    Derived terms

    * deregulate * downregulate * upregulate