as in triggers
to cause to function
the thermostat is set to activate the heating system only when the temperature drops below 65 degrees
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of activates
Rucking activates the upper trapezius, shoulders, upper back, abdominals, obliques and lower back, according to trainers and coaches who specialize in the method.
—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
1 July 2026
Scent activates pathways that trigger emotional and memory responses.
—
Pooja Mistry,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
When the predator is close at hand, our body activates a set of automatic responses.
—
Literary Hub,
30 June 2026
Mars activates your 8th House of Intimacy and Shared Resources, motivating you to tackle sensitive matters with courage and protect what truly matters.
—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
28 June 2026
Value meets vision as the willful Sun activates your 2nd House of Finances in a quincunx to intense Pluto in your 9th House of Exploration.
—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
26 June 2026
The study identified phytic acid as one trigger that activates it.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
24 June 2026
Beliefs bump against reality as the emotional Moon activates your 9th House of Learning, quincunx combative Mars in your 4th House of Home.
—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
23 June 2026
Each post activates your sense memory, taking you back to the inside of a mall in, say, September 1998.
—
Brendan Hay,
SPIN,
22 June 2026
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
1 July 2026
Scent activates pathways that trigger emotional and memory responses.
—
Pooja Mistry,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
When the predator is close at hand, our body activates a set of automatic responses.
—
Literary Hub,
30 June 2026
Mars activates your 8th House of Intimacy and Shared Resources, motivating you to tackle sensitive matters with courage and protect what truly matters.
—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
28 June 2026
Value meets vision as the willful Sun activates your 2nd House of Finances in a quincunx to intense Pluto in your 9th House of Exploration.
—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
26 June 2026
The study identified phytic acid as one trigger that activates it.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
24 June 2026
Beliefs bump against reality as the emotional Moon activates your 9th House of Learning, quincunx combative Mars in your 4th House of Home.
—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
23 June 2026
Each post activates your sense memory, taking you back to the inside of a mall in, say, September 1998.
—
Brendan Hay,
SPIN,
22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for activates
Verb
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Mamdani triggers emergency plan for heat On Monday, June 29, the mayor's office announced the activation of a Heat Emergency plan, preparing cooling centers across the city, alongside other options for New Yorkers stuck outside.
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Destruction of mammalian tissues typically triggers a complex mix of responses from the immune and repair systems.
Verb
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And a red card against an American soccer star sparks debate.
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This trend, however, sparks concerns about a looming leadership crisis.
Verb
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By stripping out parts and, crucially, reducing the number of unique parts, the company shortens manufacturing time, raises reliability, and drives down cost, all at once.
-
Fire shelters are mandatory equipment for crews who work across rugged terrain where things can change at a moment’s notice, especially when extremely dry and windy weather drives the flames, as happened last Saturday.
Verb
-
For 2026, the V6 generates 536 hp (400 kW), and the electric motor adds another 469 hp (350 kW), but only when there’s charge in the battery, which isn’t for that much of an average lap.
-
The violence of the motion generates prodigious amounts of topspin.
Cite this Entry
“Activates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/activates. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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