as in triggers
to cause to function
set off a bomb
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sets off
Jessie, with the help of Woody and Buzz, sets off to help Bonnie make some real-world friends.
—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
After a period devoted to motherhood, Agus sets off for a long yearned-for trip to Japan with dear friend Loly.
—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
19 June 2026
This sets off a negative feedback loop where future investments fail to yield returns, as the legacy business continues to shrink.
—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
In her latest Netflix action effort, Theron plays a woman who sets off on a trip to Australia to soothe her grief but unwittingly crosses paths with Egerton’s unnerving hunter, who forces her into a game of cat and mouse.
—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
The first fight between on-the-rocks elder millennials Josh (Oscar Isaac) and Lindsay (Carey Mulligan), witnessed by the young betrotheds Austin (Charles Melton) and Ashley (Cailee Spaeny), creates the toxic connection between the couples and sets off everything else that happens on the show.
—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 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
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
After a period devoted to motherhood, Agus sets off for a long yearned-for trip to Japan with dear friend Loly.
—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
19 June 2026
This sets off a negative feedback loop where future investments fail to yield returns, as the legacy business continues to shrink.
—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
In her latest Netflix action effort, Theron plays a woman who sets off on a trip to Australia to soothe her grief but unwittingly crosses paths with Egerton’s unnerving hunter, who forces her into a game of cat and mouse.
—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
The first fight between on-the-rocks elder millennials Josh (Oscar Isaac) and Lindsay (Carey Mulligan), witnessed by the young betrotheds Austin (Charles Melton) and Ashley (Cailee Spaeny), creates the toxic connection between the couples and sets off everything else that happens on the show.
—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sets off
Verb
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Mamdani triggers emergency plan for heat On Monday, June 29, the mayor's office announced the activation of a Heat Emergency plan, preparing cooling centers across the city, alongside other options for New Yorkers stuck outside.
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Destruction of mammalian tissues typically triggers a complex mix of responses from the immune and repair systems.
Verb
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Rucking activates the upper trapezius, shoulders, upper back, abdominals, obliques and lower back, according to trainers and coaches who specialize in the method.
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Scent activates pathways that trigger emotional and memory responses.
Verb
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And a red card against an American soccer star sparks debate.
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This trend, however, sparks concerns about a looming leadership crisis.
Verb
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By stripping out parts and, crucially, reducing the number of unique parts, the company shortens manufacturing time, raises reliability, and drives down cost, all at once.
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Fire shelters are mandatory equipment for crews who work across rugged terrain where things can change at a moment’s notice, especially when extremely dry and windy weather drives the flames, as happened last Saturday.
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.
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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.
Verb
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Your mind takes you on an adventure as Jupiter moves into Leo today.
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This risk decreases as the storm moves away.
Cite this Entry
“Sets off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sets%20off. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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