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
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.
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Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2025
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actuating
Verb
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Physical controls remain especially useful for functions drivers use frequently, such as adjusting the audio system volume, changing climate settings and activating hazard lights.—
Chris Teague,
AJC.com,
13 Mar. 2026
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If activating brown fat increases energy expenditure, could it be harnessed to treat obesity?—
Claudio Villanueva,
The Conversation,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This intense demand is driving significant activity among niche data providers.—
NILESH CHRISTOPHER LOS ANGELES TIMES,
Arkansas Online,
15 Mar. 2026
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Objects that are outdoors should be secured and caution should be taken if driving.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After Hamas attacked Israel, on October 7, 2023, triggering a broad Israeli military campaign in Gaza, Israel killed Hamas leaders and decimated its military capabilities.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
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Duke's Malibu Duke's reopening timeline was pushed back several times after heavy rain soaked the bare hillsides, triggering mudslides throughout the burn scar, some of which filled the restaurant's property.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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So if a person thinks about moving their hand, the device reads those brain signals and turns them into an actual movement.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
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From that point, the cycle of roaming from beach to pool to spa to catamaran to tennis courts takes over, moving at the speed set entirely by you, the guest.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Later that year, Britain declared war on Germany, sparking World War II.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
15 Mar. 2026
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In 2006, Joshua Duckett’s two-year-old son, Trenton Duckett, went missing on a warm August night in Leesburg, sparking a nationwide search and global media sensation.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Our defense was indeed locked in, forcing two turnovers and propelling the team to an early lead.—
McKay Coppins,
The Atlantic,
12 Mar. 2026
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Accelerators allow researchers to study the universe at extremely small scales by propelling beams of particles to high speeds before directing them into targets or collisions.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Actuating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actuating. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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