Synonym Chooser

How does the verb actuate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of actuate are drive, impel, and move. While all these words mean "to set or keep in motion," actuate stresses transmission of power so as to work or set in motion.

turbines actuated by waterpower

When could drive be used to replace actuate?

The synonyms drive and actuate are sometimes interchangeable, but drive implies imparting forward and continuous motion and often stresses the effect rather than the impetus.

a ship driven aground by hurricane winds

Where would impel be a reasonable alternative to actuate?

The words impel and actuate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, impel is usually figurative and suggests a great motivating impetus.

a candidate impelled by ambition

When is it sensible to use move instead of actuate?

In some situations, the words move and actuate are roughly equivalent. However, move is very general and implies no more than the fact of changing position.

moved the furniture

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of actuate And a story was planted that Nazi Germany actuated the Katyn Massacre in 1940. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2024 The cascading dominoes can also be lightweight, flexible, and actuated by a variety of soft actuators (for example, shape memory alloys, inflatable actuators, bending actuators, etc.), whereas conveyor systems are operated by electric motors. IEEE Spectrum, 7 Mar. 2023 When in alarm mode, the slide must be actuated again to wind the alarm, changing the bell from red to white. Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 10 Nov. 2023 Other teams favored a physical interface, strapping the operator into hardware (almost like a robotic exoskeleton) that could read their motions and then actuate the limbs of the avatar robot to match, while simultaneously providing force feedback. IEEE Spectrum, 16 Apr. 2023 See All Example Sentences for actuate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actuate
Verb
  • The Leo full moon activates themes of intimacy and transformation, encouraging you to dive deeper into your emotional connections.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2025
  • The following year, on Oct. 21, the fledgling military branch activated Space Operations Command at Peterson Air Force Base (now Peterson Space Force Base) in Colorado.
    Julian Dossett, Space.com, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • On one of those days, Sue began asking Ken to move her to a care home.
    Jon Hamilton, NPR, 26 Feb. 2025
  • In 1881, a young businessman named John Taylor moved from Columbus, Ohio, to Kansas City with a dream of starting his own store.
    Randy Mason, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • These intense reactions can be triggered by food, medication or insect stings.
    Natallie Rocha, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The Miami-Dade Police officer who pulled over Miami Dolphins’ superstar Tyreek Hill — triggering a chaotic series of events that led to him and a fellow player in handcuffs — has a history of using force during his five years with the department.
    Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • So, does your workplace use curiosity to drive meaningful results?
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Harbour remains bullish on the stock longer term, however, anticipating that Chipotle’s consistent unit sales, strong balance sheet and use of automation to cut costs and drive margins could be some key growth drivers for the company.
    Pia Singh, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Moore’s exit will spark widespread speculation over who will replace her at the BBC.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Pioneering The Future Of Retail The rise of AI in retail has sparked concerns about job displacement.
    Gurhan Kok, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Instead, the wide, stable platform and bouncy, just-soft-enough foam gently propelled me forward.
    Lauren Wingenroth, SELF, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Inflation spiked in 2022 to its highest level in four decades, propelling Trump to the White House and leading the Fed to rapidly raise interest rates to tame prices.
    DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFFFROM WIRE REPORTS, arkansasonline.com, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Algorithmic recommendation engines that power everything from X to YouTube can even contribute to a slow-burn destabilization of American society by shoving consumers into partisan echo chambers that increase polarization and erode social trust.
    Seth Ashley, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The previous test flight, which similarly failed as the rocket was powering into space, most likely failed because of a leak in an engine causing a pressure buildup, the company said last month.
    Alex Knapp, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • That didn’t impel the NFL to change the overtime rule, which at the time said a game ends if a team scores a touchdown in the extra period.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Without doing so, the city risks adding to the recent record of downgrades from the ratings agencies and impels that any new infrastructure debt minimizes additional costs over the long run.
    Dana Levenson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Actuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actuate. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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