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actuated

verb

past tense of actuate
1
as in activated
to cause to function a light actuated by a motion detector the alarm system actuates the door locks

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in moved
to set or keep in motion hearing depends on sound vibrations that actuate the complex mechanism of that sensory organ, the ear

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of actuated Hundreds of laymen, actuated solely by idle curiosity, received little more than a crick in the neck for their pains. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Each of the twenty-four flutes was actuated with a pair of wooden lips capable of the subtle modulation achieved with a human mouth. — Jonathon Keats, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 But every function is going to be electronically actuated, every display is simulated on a screen … just like every Honda and Hyundai. — Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 3 June 2026 Each is separately spring-loaded, depressing four millimeters at most (though they can be actuated with as little as two millimeters of travel) before bouncing back with a confirming click. — Literary Hub, 19 May 2026 The two chambers of the soft, pneumatic finger are actuated manually, using two large syringes filled with air. — IEEE Spectrum, 18 Feb. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actuated
  1. activated
  2. moved
  3. triggered
  4. drove
  5. sparked
  6. propelled
  7. impelled
Verb
  • There’s also Will Warren, who has pitched well of late, and Clarke Schmidt, who was activated off the IL on Wednesday after a grueling recovery from Tommy John surgery.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Barring a setback in his final minor league rehab appearance, he could be activated in time for the playoffs.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of activated
Verb
  • She’s haunted by her divorce from Donn, and her greatest fear is being alone, which is becoming more and more of a real possibility, especially since her family has largely moved away.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Diane was a blender of hair and plaid, while Aurora moved solidly, pushing a wheelbarrow.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of moved
Verb
  • New defensive tariffs can be imposed only after the commission conducts a formal investigation, which is bound by statutory deadlines and triggered by evidence of injury to European industry.
    — JONAS NAHM, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The Saudi pipeline, which can carry 7 million barrels per day, has played a key role in easing the severe oil supply disruption triggered by the Iran war.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of triggered
Verb
  • The helicopter, which was used by NBC and Telemundo, crashed about two hours after police say Rios drove her 2004 Ford Expedition the wrong way down a busy avenue, ran a red light and struck a vehicle before hitting the bus.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Stocks posted a comeback one day after the Fed's decision to raise rates by a quarter percentage point — with the suggestion of at least one more rate increase this year — drove major market averages sharply lower Wednesday.
    — Justina Lee,Sarah Min, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of drove
Verb
  • Syria will provide subsidized diesel fuel for heating and agriculture after sharp price increases sparked widespread protests this week.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The rumors were sparked by an X user believed to be model Melanie Jayda, who has been linked to Offset in the past.
    — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of sparked
Verb
  • The backstory Since its opening in 2011, the Roundhouse has witnessed—and in many ways propelled—Beacon’s ascendency as a destination for food, art, and shopping.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The big waves are being fueled by the energy produced by Marie, and propelled by an elevated sea level due to warming ocean waters, according to Swain.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of propelled
Verb
  • Some fifteen years later, her determination to study Schubert lieder with expert teachers was in large part what impelled her to go to Europe.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Despite the challenges, many candidates are impelled by the desire to steer political discourse toward civility and issues that matter most to ordinary citizens.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of impelled

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actuated
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Cite this Entry

“Actuated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actuated. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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