as in triggering
to cause to function
the thermostat is set to activate the heating system only when the temperature drops below 65 degrees
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in energizing
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of activating
Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
With the sun shining in your sign until September 22 and both eclipses activating your axis of self and relationships, this month pushes you into taking initiative in your life.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
The month also has more light and ease thanks to Venus entering Libra on October 13 and the Libra New Moon on October 21, both activating your sector of partnership, romance, and compromise.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 30 Sep. 2025
This neurocosmetic innovation, inspired by Nobel Prize-winning research on touch receptors, works by activating sensory pathways in the skin to trigger the release of mood-regulating biomarkers, establishing a continuous feedback loop between skin repair and emotional balance.
—Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
Buendia was viewed as a player who belonged in the previous era, perhaps yesterday’s man and someone who Emery had already tried to dispense with — Bayer Leverkusen decided against activating their option to buy after his January loan.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
But perhaps adding Luis Campusano to the taxi squad on Sunday and not immediately activating him was a clue that Díaz dodged a significant injury.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Sep. 2025
Mars activating Pluto can harness your career ambitions into an all-or-nothing approach.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
With the sun and Venus in Libra this season — activating your flirtatious fifth house of love, passion and pleasure — everything from creativity to romantic affairs is suddenly on your radar.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
This includes continuing to donate 5 percent of our profits to a range of organizations and activating our long-standing tradition of local volunteerism.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
With the sun shining in your sign until September 22 and both eclipses activating your axis of self and relationships, this month pushes you into taking initiative in your life.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
The month also has more light and ease thanks to Venus entering Libra on October 13 and the Libra New Moon on October 21, both activating your sector of partnership, romance, and compromise.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 30 Sep. 2025
This neurocosmetic innovation, inspired by Nobel Prize-winning research on touch receptors, works by activating sensory pathways in the skin to trigger the release of mood-regulating biomarkers, establishing a continuous feedback loop between skin repair and emotional balance.
—Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
Buendia was viewed as a player who belonged in the previous era, perhaps yesterday’s man and someone who Emery had already tried to dispense with — Bayer Leverkusen decided against activating their option to buy after his January loan.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
But perhaps adding Luis Campusano to the taxi squad on Sunday and not immediately activating him was a clue that Díaz dodged a significant injury.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Sep. 2025
Mars activating Pluto can harness your career ambitions into an all-or-nothing approach.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
With the sun and Venus in Libra this season — activating your flirtatious fifth house of love, passion and pleasure — everything from creativity to romantic affairs is suddenly on your radar.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for activating
Verb
-
The government has challenged the ruling, triggering a lengthy appeals process — highly unusual in immigration cases that don’t involve serious crimes.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The game’s loot box mechanics — while not exclusive to EA — also led to backlash from gamers, triggering European regulators to investigate whether the feature constituted gambling.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The video has touched viewers deeply, sparking an outpouring of emotions online.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
And in 2010, Israeli forces attacked an aid flotilla in international waters, killing nine Turkish nationals and sparking outrage around the world.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Carrie Bradshaw, frankly, has always been a mess — a beautiful, cringe-inducing, selfish, couture-wearing mess.—
Lyz Lenz,
Rolling Stone,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
While driving - Stick to the middle lanes and stay on elevated ground.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Oct. 2025
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In bodycam footage provided by Ory, the gold truck's driver said the woman driving the car behind him caused the wreck after pulling into the other lane to avoid colliding with the back of the truck.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Although no policies were violated, auditors recommended stronger vetting for revenue-generating contracts, which often escape scrutiny.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Versant last month filed its first financial reckoning with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and while the breakaway entity is still generating plenty of cash, the flow has been disrupted by the ongoing rash of customer defections.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Hungary provides an inspiring example as country of honor thanks to its strong track-record in preservation and circulation through events such as the Budapest Classic Film Marathon.—
Lise Pedersen,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
-
In an inspiring act of kindness and generosity, tournament angler Tripp Berlinsky turned the biggest win of his college fishing career into an opportunity to give back.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In fact, this was a galvanizing moment in my relationship with Brian Grazer that ultimately would lead us to launch a company.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Mamdani’s victory in the financial capital of the world was seen as a galvanizing moment for the progressive wing of the party and a sign of an insurgent mood among its base.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The video shows Combs playing with his children, mourning Kim Porter and giving motivational speeches at fundraisers in New York.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Skey spoke with Bershan Shaw, a breast cancer survivor, motivational speaker and podcast host, who was diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer at age 33, then with Stage IV two years later.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Activating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/activating. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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