as in to trigger
to cause to function
set off a bomb
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in ornament
something that decorates or beautifies
the architect used stone carvings as setoffs for the building's marble facing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of set off
Tara Copp, Twin Cities, 11 Apr. 2025
Ice-rich soil warmed, thawed and collapsed, setting off a chain reaction still unfolding today.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2019
See All Example Sentences for set off
Verb
Trump wants to annex the territory, claiming it’s needed for national security purposes, and Vance’s visit in late March set off heated rhetoric between the U.S. and Denmark, with Trump refusing to take the use of military force off the table.
—Tara Copp, Twin Cities, 11 Apr. 2025
Ice-rich soil warmed, thawed and collapsed, setting off a chain reaction still unfolding today.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
That setoff a worldwide hunt for the impact site.
—Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2019
See All Example Sentences for set off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for set off
Verb
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That change in pressure triggered the mantle rocks to melt—and created the molten reservoir that fueled the Virginia eruptions.—
Alexandra Witze,
JSTOR Daily,
24 Apr. 2025
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The handling of the sensitive military discussions among Trump's brass also triggered widespread U.S. security concerns.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Isabelle McCalla gives an endearing, heartfelt and sometimes tearful performance as Elinor, who sings poignantly about her desire to be more useful in society than just a child-bearing ornament.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 2025
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The species’s presence in the U.K. dates back at least two hundred and fifty thousand years, and has inspired whimsical reverence—badgers appear across children’s literature and cartoons, on holiday ornaments, and as beloved mascots—and extreme loathing.—
Anna Russell,
The New Yorker,
10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Troopers located the Tesla and allegedly observed the vehicle traveling in the center lane at approximately 30 mph with its four-way hazard lights activated.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
18 Apr. 2025
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Mars and Pluto activate your Leo-Aquarius axis on April 26, stirring questions about career, leadership, and emotional safety.—
Colin Bedell,
Them.,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Across the 20th century, a constellation of Black intellectuals and artists approached fashion not merely as ornamentation but as ontology.—
Achille Tenkiang,
Vogue,
24 Apr. 2025
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This shift into ornamentation seems like a natural progression, particularly for Black designers as the Black home is rich in history, aesthetics, and storytelling.—
Kerane Marcellus,
Essence,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Beyond its commercial success, the production has generated substantial cultural impact, sparking over 3.8 million social media mentions in the first quarter of 2025 and achieving an 84% Net Sentiment Rate – the highest in its category.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 Apr. 2025
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The suspect could be seen smashing in a window with a hammer and throwing a Molotov cocktail into the room, immediately sparking flames, according to an arrest affidavit.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Florida resident reportedly traveled to Washington, D.C., with Trump on Air Force One to assist with the decorations.—
Raven Brunner,
People.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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The second-biggest exporter of Christmas decorations to the US is Cambodia, where factory wages are even lower than China, but Trump also imposed 49% tariffs on the small Southeast Asian nation, before the recent 90-day pause.—
Marc Stewart,
CNN Money,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The Ontario Home Builders’ Association warned last month that tariffs and counter-tariffs on steel and aluminum products would likely drive up the costs of construction materials, making building and buying new homes more expensive, worsening the housing affordability issue.—
Hira Humayun,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2025
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The study found a 6% annual decline, driven by poaching, habitat loss and weak law enforcement.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Many people don't realize, though, that depositing a paper Social Security check into a bank account won't protect you in cases of debt collection and garnishment.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2025
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Wage garnishment had been suspended under emergency relief measures that began in March 2020.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Set off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set%20off. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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