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
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of activating
New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2025
With Venus also in the mix, activating your ninth house of adventure, you’re reminded that life’s biggest lessons come through experience.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Prioritize visibility Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by activating your headlights.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
Mental health experts suggest that hands-on hobbies like knitting, puzzle-making, and baking foster mindfulness and reduce anxiety by activating our senses, grounding us in the moment, and shifting focus from perfection to process.
—Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025
Research shows that people who acknowledge or apologize for rejection risk activating the rejectee’s ire, rather than alleviating hurt feelings.
—Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2025
Bottom line The most likely scenario moving forward has the Oilers activating Walman this weekend, with Regula possibly going on IR.
—Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
In response, Microsoft notes the company is adding further restrictions to activating IE Mode in Edge for non-commercial users.
—PC Magazine, 13 Oct. 2025
That same year, Marines move into Balboa Park, activating barracks.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
There's a Shimano shifter to the right and useful illuminated buttons to the left for adjusting PAS, sounding the horn, engaging turn signaling, and activating walk-assist.
—New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2025
With Venus also in the mix, activating your ninth house of adventure, you’re reminded that life’s biggest lessons come through experience.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Prioritize visibility Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by activating your headlights.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
Mental health experts suggest that hands-on hobbies like knitting, puzzle-making, and baking foster mindfulness and reduce anxiety by activating our senses, grounding us in the moment, and shifting focus from perfection to process.
—Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025
Research shows that people who acknowledge or apologize for rejection risk activating the rejectee’s ire, rather than alleviating hurt feelings.
—Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2025
Bottom line The most likely scenario moving forward has the Oilers activating Walman this weekend, with Regula possibly going on IR.
—Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
In response, Microsoft notes the company is adding further restrictions to activating IE Mode in Edge for non-commercial users.
—PC Magazine, 13 Oct. 2025
That same year, Marines move into Balboa Park, activating barracks.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for activating
Verb
-
Less than 48 hours later, ICE shut down the block, barreling down Broadway against one-way traffic in armored vehicles, triggering national media attention and immediate protests.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
27 Oct. 2025
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The newspaper said that one of the two men was planning to leave the country to Algeria, triggering the arrests.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In fact, every apparent breakdown has turned into a bear trap, sparking powerful reversals in the opposite direction.—
Frank Cappelleri,
CNBC,
22 Oct. 2025
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The post has been liked more than 46,000 times in less than 24 hours, sparking a flurry of emotional comments in the process.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 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
-
Bandit had been found on a rural road in the middle of nowhere and would have died had his rescuer not been driving past.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
-
That driving tension and anxiety are largely thanks to the team of artisans, which included composer Volker Bertelmann, editor Kirk Baxter and sound designer Paul Ottosson, who worked closely behind the scenes on their respective crafts to bring it together.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Along with this new relentless fast pace, the Heat tweaked the offense to use fewer pick-and-rolls, fewer handoffs and fewer play calls while generating more paint attacks this season.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
25 Oct. 2025
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Wiley added that Barrett-Jackson is good at generating excitement for the vehicles, so the car could get even more than his top line estimate of $1 million.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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My role is to ensure bringing our ambitious vision to life, which is to be an international luxury brand builder, bridging cultures and inspiring dreams.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
21 Oct. 2025
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From the red carpet to the runway, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s logos have turned into status symbols, inspiring designers, brands and fans around the world.—
Khanh T.L. Tran,
USA Today,
21 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
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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
-
Strimel is now a motivational speaker who regularly talks about her experience with breast cancer.—
Korin Miller,
Flow Space,
27 Oct. 2025
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Fontanez, who has cut hair for everyone from Tom Brady to Nelly and even former President Barack Obama, broadened his career focus during the pandemic to include motivational speaking.—
Hedy Phillips,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Activating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/activating. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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