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

The emergency declaration activates the state agriculture department’s relief resources to help farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses recover.

— Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
Argentina fans, meanwhile, are unique in all sports—other countries have fan bases that get loud, but a stadium full of Argentineans activates something primordial.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 16 July 2026

Definition of activates

Verb

Their fundamentalist, literal understanding of the Bible is one that drives them to take bigger, bolder actions to affirm their belief that the United States is a Christian nation.

— Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
Intentional planning drives better long-term outcomes than an approach prioritizing speed.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of drives

Verb

The stutter, in this case, provides a sudden stimulus that triggers the ’keeper to commit to going in a certain direction early, which can then be exploited with a shot sent the other way.

— Geir Jordet, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Many scientists believe that amyloid buildup eventually triggers an abnormal form of tau to form tangles in neurons, setting off symptoms.

— Lauran Neergaard, Fortune, 14 July 2026

Definition of triggers

Verb

Instead of using a remote or control panel, the player moves into position and signals with a simple hand gesture for the ball, and the AI biometrics locate and pinpoint the player position.

— Shirl Leigh July 13, New Atlas, 13 July 2026
This recent flight, announced this week, confirmed the drone’s flight controls and performance as the program moves closer to carrier use.

— Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026

Definition of moves

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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 18 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of actuates

verb

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