1
as in activating
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 driving
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of actuating
Creating such complex structures combining soft and rigid features and actuating them with artificial muscles would further our understanding of natural kinematic structures.
—
IEEE Spectrum, 6 Mar. 2026
Dynamic soft robots To create OCTOID’s modular actuating legs, researchers fabricated active (AL) and passive layers (PL) from cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers (CLCEs) using a bottom-up self-assembly of reactive mesogens, crosslinkers, and chain extenders.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2025
IEEE Spectrum, 6 Mar. 2026
Dynamic soft robots To create OCTOID’s modular actuating legs, researchers fabricated active (AL) and passive layers (PL) from cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers (CLCEs) using a bottom-up self-assembly of reactive mesogens, crosslinkers, and chain extenders.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actuating
Verb
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Sprinting entails pushing off with your feet and abruptly activating your calf muscles.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
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More time is devoted to setting up the dramatic situation than to activating it.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Verb
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The woman who was driving the sedan was taken to a local Shock Trauma Center after sustaining serious injuries.—
CBS Baltimore Staff,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
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Not to be overshadowed by the outfielder’s efforts, Cody Morrissette also went 3 for 5, with one home run, as well as driving home Wallner with a two-out single to end the game.—
Staff Report,
Twin Cities,
21 June 2026
Verb
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Scientists have discovered that seismic waves from Japan’s devastating 2011 earthquake traveled to Earth’s core and back, triggering a second tectonic slip event that shifted the country eastward by up to 6 millimeters.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
18 June 2026
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Feels-like temperatures are expected to soar up to 120 degrees in parts of Texas on Thursday, June 18, triggering extreme heat warnings and advisories in several parts of the state, according to the National Weather Service.—
Natassia Paloma,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Verb
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Officers can use voice commands, and if those don’t work options include pepper spray, a baton, a TASER or fire extinguisher, though some are more difficult to use on a fast-moving animal, the directive says.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
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Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 June 2026
Verb
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Bitcoin has struggled through 2026, plunging to half its October peak and sparking fears of an imminent bitcoin collapse.—
Billy Bambrough,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
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While backing its longtime partner Iran rhetorically, China has been measured in its criticism of the US for sparking the conflict and held multiple calls and meetings with Gulf states that came under Iran’s attack.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
Verb
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But as of late, electrolyte beverages, powders, drops and tablets are cropping up everywhere from grocery-store endcaps to podcast ads, propelling a market that has nearly doubled in size since 2020 to hit about $40 billion in 2025.—
Erica Sloan,
Washington Post,
21 June 2026
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But Vance credits her with propelling him on his journey back to Christianity, through her openness to exploring the world and challenging received ideas and teachings.—
Vivian Salama,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Actuating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actuating. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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