ACTUATES Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

actuates

verb

present tense third-person singular of actuate

as in activates

to cause to function a light actuated by a motion detector the alarm system actuates the door locks

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as in drives

to set or keep in motion hearing depends on sound vibrations that actuate the complex mechanism of that sensory organ, the ear

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for actuates

Verb

Chili introduces capsaicin, which activates nerves responsible for sensing heat rather than taste.

— Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
Every summer in Rhode Island, Art&Newport—an organization founded in 2017 by Dodie Kazanjian, a longtime contributing editor at this magazine—activates one of the seaside city’s most historic (and picturesque) sites with a temporary art exhibition.

— Vogue, Vogue, 28 July 2026

Definition of activates

Verb

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk was photographed wearing Normatec compression boots in the back seat of his car on post‑match drives home before becoming an official partner.

— Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Emotionally powerful and also disorienting, Agazero’s shifting sounds on Dissidente are an invitation to reflect on what calls us to the dancefloor, as well as what drives us away from it.

— Amanda Cavalcanti, Pitchfork, 31 July 2026

Definition of drives

Verb

Inhaling these particles triggers inflammation, increasing risks of cardiovascular complications and stroke, particularly for vulnerable populations like children, older adults, and those with chronic conditions.

— Jamie Gold, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Many couples pick a dollar amount that triggers a conversation before either partner spends it, whether that is $100 or $500.

— Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of triggers

Verb

The financing is assembled, the logic of the deal does not decay, and every quarter that resembles the last one moves shareholders toward the bidders' side of the table.

— Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Monsoon storms continue in the Southwest The Southwest will continue to see daily chances for thunderstorms as monsoon moisture moves across the region.

— Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 27 July 2026

Definition of moves

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actuated

actuates

actuating

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“Actuates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actuates. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of actuates

verb

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