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
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Recent Examples of activating
Danielle Zickl, Health, 30 Oct. 2025
The moon activating Neptune can evaporate a feeling of groundedness.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
Empowering the next generation of Black and PoC executives through media, mentorship, and meaningful programming, while activating current leaders as champions and sponsors is their mission.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 24 Oct. 2025
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
Adjective
Step your feet back and form a straight line from shoulders to heels—all while activating your abs.
—Danielle Zickl, Health, 30 Oct. 2025
The moon activating Neptune can evaporate a feeling of groundedness.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
Empowering the next generation of Black and PoC executives through media, mentorship, and meaningful programming, while activating current leaders as champions and sponsors is their mission.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 24 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for activating
Verb
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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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Months before the citations were made, the Sheriff’s Office filed a lawsuit against Cal-OSHA, sparking a legal battle centered on relatively recent changes to state labor law, and the latter’s authority to investigate and penalize law enforcement agencies.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
29 Oct. 2025
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The Sudanese Army withdrew from a key city in Darfur now under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, sparking fears of mass atrocities by the group, which has reportedly received backing from the UAE.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Carrie Bradshaw, frankly, has always been a mess — a beautiful, cringe-inducing, selfish, couture-wearing mess.—
Lyz Lenz,
Rolling Stone,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
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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
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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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Your votes will now help decide who will be the next CNN Hero of the Year and receive an additional $100,000 to continue their inspiring work.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
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At the same time, the Canadian-American relationship has been an inspiring, positive example to the rest of the world.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
30 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
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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 2 Nov. 2025.
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