1
as in activates
to cause to function
a light actuated by a motion detector the alarm system actuates the door locks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actuates
Verb
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The system, created by Eshel Wasim and Dharsan Srinivasan, uses AI and sensors to detect when a crash is imminent and activates automatically if the plane is below 3,000 feet.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Sep. 2025 -
Neuroscience confirms that a rival’s failure actually activates the ventral striatum, the brain’s pleasure center, rivaling the thrill of a team’s success.—
Richard Menger MD MPA,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Travelers plug in their dates and destinations, and owners of more than 2,000 aircraft bid for the business in real time, creating a competitive environment that drives down costs.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Sep. 2025
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Create a review system that forces brutal honesty and drives real change.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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When danger nears, the first few birds flap their wings, sending a cascading signal that triggers a collective launch.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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An off-normal reading—say, lubricant temperature creeping up—triggers a work order automatically.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray has confirmed plans to pursue the death penalty, meaning Robinson will remain in custody without bail as the case moves toward trial.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
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Conventional engines burn fuel in a steady process, where the flame front (the area at which combustion occurs) moves smoothly through a propellant mixture to produce continuous thrust.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The chance encounter sparks difficult political and moral conversations between the young lovers, a debate that ends up affecting the entire community.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
19 Sep. 2025
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Encouraging honest conversations about failure not only builds trust, but also sparks creativity, resilience and bold thinking.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This fifth entry, while largely revolving around the past and the origins of Treadstone — including surprising ties to Bourne’s dad (Gregg Henry) — also propels the story into contemporary technological territory.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Sep. 2025
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These are essential for controlling the whip-like motion that propels sperm forward.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Actuates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actuates. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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