1
as in activates
to cause to function
a light actuated by a motion detector the alarm system actuates the door locks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in drives
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actuates
Verb
-
Beginning to disconnect from your life and relationships Trauma can also be a piece of the picture—whether your work situation causes trauma or activates old trauma.—
Jess Cording,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025 -
What happens from there was, for me, almost completely unexpected and Harrow activates both the brain and the heart in equal measure.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Over half of the generation says hard work, not luck, drives success.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Security leaders have long viewed data as a strategic asset that drives insights, innovation and market advantage.—
Asaf Kochan,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Asking for headcount often triggers a budget reflex.—
Sarah Chambers,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Although the shooting causes alarm and triggers police investigations, Serafina initially escapes direct consequences by going into hiding.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The job market moves quickly, and preparation is your competitive advantage.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The all-new Habiton lives and sleeps larger than its footprint thanks an entire room that actually moves back and forth.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In the first lawsuit, the Justice Department blamed the January 7 Eaton Fire on faulty SCE power infrastructure or sparks from that infrastructure, causing the burning of nearly 8,000 acres in Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles County.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
4 Sep. 2025
-
When a chance meeting sparks a connection, their bond deepens, and secrets and holiday pressures force them to face what truly matters.—
Breanne L. Heldman,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
White Out possesses the quest element that propels many a recovery memoir—except that in Clune’s case, the quest for sobriety is until the end consistently subordinated to the quest to score more drugs.—
Scott Stossel,
The Atlantic,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Each sperm is streamlined for speed, with a tail that propels it forward and a head that carries genetic material.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Sep. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Actuates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actuates. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share