as in triggers
to cause to function
set off a bomb
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Recent Examples of sets off
This sets off a chain of events for the family for generations.
—
Jessica Moore, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Attractive green foliage sets off other plants in summer, and in fall, the plant displays a lovely yellow-gold color.
—Lynn McAlpine, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026
In Terminator, an all-powerful, faultless AI becomes sentient, decides that humans are the enemy, and sets off a nuclear apocalypse.
—Bipul Sinha, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
Convinced that these images faithfully represent America, a group of villagers sets off for the New World.
—Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 8 Nov. 2025
The comedy horror film revolves around Brian (Tyler Perry) forbidding his daughter Tiffany (Diamond White) from attending a frat party, which sets off a string of Halloween pranks.
—Ariana Quihuiz, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
In the Disney+ series of the same name, rebellious princess Kit (Bottoms’ Ruby Cruz) sets off on a dangerous quest to rescue her twin brother from dastardly forces of evil.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 15 Oct. 2025
Instead, Swift sets off in search of a knockout.
—Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025
The Carbon offers Apple Find My tracker integration and has its own Turbo System Lock that kills the motor and (optionally) sets off lights and siren alarms when the bike is moved while disabled.
—Kevin Purdy, ArsTechnica, 20 Sep. 2025
Jessica Moore, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Attractive green foliage sets off other plants in summer, and in fall, the plant displays a lovely yellow-gold color.
—Lynn McAlpine, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026
In Terminator, an all-powerful, faultless AI becomes sentient, decides that humans are the enemy, and sets off a nuclear apocalypse.
—Bipul Sinha, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
Convinced that these images faithfully represent America, a group of villagers sets off for the New World.
—Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 8 Nov. 2025
The comedy horror film revolves around Brian (Tyler Perry) forbidding his daughter Tiffany (Diamond White) from attending a frat party, which sets off a string of Halloween pranks.
—Ariana Quihuiz, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
In the Disney+ series of the same name, rebellious princess Kit (Bottoms’ Ruby Cruz) sets off on a dangerous quest to rescue her twin brother from dastardly forces of evil.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 15 Oct. 2025
Instead, Swift sets off in search of a knockout.
—Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025
The Carbon offers Apple Find My tracker integration and has its own Turbo System Lock that kills the motor and (optionally) sets off lights and siren alarms when the bike is moved while disabled.
—Kevin Purdy, ArsTechnica, 20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sets off
Verb
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Rain also triggers personal associations — cozy indoor afternoons, quiet nights, childhood rainy days.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
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Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, with snow and heavy rain that triggers flash floods often killing dozens, or even hundreds, of people at a time.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Removing visual stimulation activates the parasympathetic nervous system and reduces cortisol.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
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Sensory Reduction and Cortisol Removing visual stimulation activates the parasympathetic nervous system and reduces cortisol.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This sparks all kinds of adverse reaction, mainly from McCarthy’s snotty pals and girlfriends, a tribe so fiercely materialistic and shallow as to make current Less Than Zero-types seem well rounded by comparison.—
Duane Byrge,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The Leo moon sparks your restless desires for fun and adventure.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For Robert Flamerich, who drives from Miami Beach to Doral daily, conserving gas means sacrificing comfort.—
Austin Carter,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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The heat causes the second liquid to turn to steam, and the steam drives a generator turbine, producing electricity.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Researchers are adapting the magnetron—the same component that powers microwave ovens—to provide the 10 megawatts of power required for ADS.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Feb. 2026
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How Wisconsin's solar battery park powers 130,000 homes The Paris Solar farm began producing power in December 2024 and generates 200 megawatts of renewable electricity during the day.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Israel moves fast, launching a bold military operation against a weaker Middle Eastern neighbor.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
After that, the Moon moves from LEO into VIRGO.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sets off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sets%20off. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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