hard to stimulate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to stimulate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something or someone that requires significant effort or specific conditions to provoke a response or reaction. Example: "The patient was hard to stimulate, requiring various methods to elicit a response during the examination."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Now conservatives are portraying Mr. Bernanke, a Republican, as trying too hard to stimulate growth and underestimating the risk of inflation.

The New York Times

The good news for consumers this year, says Leo Purcell of Opodo (opodo.co.uk), is that "airlines are having to work hard to stimulate demand, which means we are seeing deflation.

The Guardian - Travel

"It's too early to tell if these findings are a trend, but we are working hard to stimulate giving through initiatives such as new tax incentives, committing £50,000 match-funding to encourage people to support local charities and our £100m transition fund, which is helping them to adapt to the new economic environment".

The Guardian - Money

Times are definitely not so good now, but the government is working hard to stimulate the economy.

Huffington Post

"There's a sense of distrust, a sense of unease about her authenticity and her candor, that isn't hard to stimulate," Steven Law, the president of the GOP super PAC American Crossroads, told The New York Times in July.

Huffington Post

Everyone and everything is trying extremely hard to stimulate these students, make them think, make them work, and make them into people the world can be proud of.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

It has proved harder to stimulate a rebirth in tush-kiiz.

The New York Times - Arts

Furthermore, it is becoming harder to stimulate the Chinese economy effectively.

The New York Times

Further budgetary tightening will make it even harder to stimulate an economy now in its fourth year of recession.

The Economist

Of course, with short-term interest rates stuck at zero, the Fed has also found it harder to stimulate the economy to combat high unemployment.

The Economist

By the end of the day, though, the market had taken the data in stride, apparently seeing it as a sign that the government would work harder to stimulate the economy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hard to stimulate", ensure the context clearly defines what is being stimulated and the reason for the difficulty. For instance, specify whether you're referring to economic growth, emotional response, or physical function.

Common error

Avoid using "hard to stimulate" without specifying the object of stimulation. For example, saying "the economy is hard to stimulate" is vague. Instead, specify which sector or aspect of the economy you are referring to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to stimulate" typically functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes the degree of difficulty associated with causing something to become active or responsive. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hard to stimulate" is grammatically sound and used to describe something that requires significant effort or specific conditions to provoke a response. Ludwig AI validates its usability. While it appears across various contexts, it is more frequently found in news, wiki, and science. When using this phrase, ensure to specify the object of stimulation to avoid vagueness. Alternatives include "difficult to stimulate" or "challenging to stimulate".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to stimulate

Replaces "hard" with a synonym, maintaining the same meaning.

challenging to stimulate

Substitutes "hard" with "challenging", implying a demanding stimulation process.

resistant to stimulation

Indicates a level of opposition to being stimulated.

unresponsive to stimulation

Highlights a lack of reaction to stimulation.

difficult to provoke

Shifts the focus to provoking a response, rather than general stimulation.

challenging to elicit a response

Emphasizes the effort required to get any reaction.

sluggish to respond

Suggests a slow or delayed reaction to stimulation.

lethargic to activate

Implies a state of inactivity or slowness when being activated.

inert to stimulation

Implies a lack of ability or will to respond.

tough to activate

Focuses on the difficulty of the activation process.

FAQs

How can I use "hard to stimulate" in a sentence?

You can use "hard to stimulate" to describe something that requires significant effort to provoke a response. For example, "The patient's reflexes were "difficult to provoke" during the neurological exam".

What are some alternatives to "hard to stimulate"?

Alternatives include "difficult to stimulate", "challenging to stimulate", or "resistant to stimulation", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "difficult to stimulate" or "hard to stimulate"?

Both "hard to stimulate" and "difficult to stimulate" are grammatically correct and acceptable. "Difficult" may be perceived as slightly more formal, but the choice depends on the context and your preferred style.

What does it mean when something is described as "hard to stimulate"?

It means that significant effort or specific conditions are needed to elicit a response or reaction from that thing. This could refer to anything from an economy that's "challenging to stimulate" to a person who is "unresponsive to stimulation".