ACTUATES Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

actuates

verb

present tense third-person singular of actuate

as in activates

to cause to function a light actuated by a motion detector the alarm system actuates the door locks

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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

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for actuates

Verb

Home asks for adjustments as the temperamental Moon activates your 4th House of Family and Foundations, bringing feelings up around privacy that supports your well‑being.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 16 Sep. 2026
If the vehicle has no power and the window remains fully raised, Tesla warns the glass could shatter when someone activates the release.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of activates

Verb

Sandra Lim, The Curious Thing While there is an undercurrent of a breakup throughout this collection, particularly in the third section, what drives this book is a reorientation of the self in the world.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
Speakers noted the Republican nominee's oil and gas investments as the energy sector amasses profits while the Iran war drives up fuel costs.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of drives

Verb

Cutting inside opens the diagonal angle and this move immediately triggers the Arsenal players to intersect the line.

— Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
In animals, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) inside the muscle supplies most of the mechanical energy, while an electrical impulse travels along a motor neuron and triggers a chain of events that causes skeletal muscle fibers to contract.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of triggers

Verb

Colorado moves way up to one spot ahead of Georgia Tech after blocking the final field goal for the road win over the Yellow Jackets.

— Chris Vannini, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Buoyed by her leadership of the multi-billion-dollar expansion project last decade, Espino moves up from deputy administrator to take full command of the canal.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of moves

Verb

As the rapid development of artificial intelligence sparks renewed debate about its risks, the United States and China keep racing to build increasingly powerful models.

— Chan Ho-Him, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Unfortunately, a cartel gets involved, and plenty of action sparks from there.

— William Earl, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of sparks

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actuated

actuates

actuating

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“Actuates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actuates. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of actuates

verb

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