as in to set off
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for key (up)
Verb
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The auction gives some breathing space to the market after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s pitch to remove the sales tax on food for two years set off a period of unprecedented volatility.—
Mia Glass,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026 -
In Terminator, an all-powerful, faultless AI becomes sentient, decides that humans are the enemy, and sets off a nuclear apocalypse.—
Bipul Sinha,
Fortune,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Yet Randolph emerged from the locker room motivated and punched right back.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
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Cirstea appeared to take issue with Osaka’s attempts to motivate herself between points, prompting the four-time Grand Slam champion to quip about Cirstea after her 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 victory.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This nostalgia-inducing activity requires far less snow and is much more accessible than skiing.—
Outside,
Outside,
23 Jan. 2026
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Expected to begin on Friday and last through Monday, CNN reported that winter storm Fern could drop more than a foot of snow, as well as potentially blackout-inducing ice storms across a 1,500-mile swath from Texas to the Northeast, with 10 states already declaring states of emergency.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The hit near the Dolphins sideline pumped up several Miami defenders.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Jan. 2026
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This version of tomato salad pumps up flavorful heirloom tomatoes with strips of sweet roasted bell pepper and crunchy roasted black-eyed peas, which are the perfect little Southern croutons.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Banda declined to speak to investigators about his method or motive for the crimes, Fort Worth Fire Department Battalion Chief David Jones said.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Jan. 2026
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Authorities have released little information about a possible suspect or motive nearly a week into the investigation.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The dual exhibition at the California Surf Museum and Oceanside Museum of Art explores the influence of surfing on art inspired by the beach lifestyle.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
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Religion does hold that unwavering power, able to inspire and heal while making others wary and uncomfortable.—
Randy McMullen,
Mercury News,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But Wison was energized by Macco’s commitment to art and creativity.—
William Earl,
Variety,
22 Jan. 2026
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For founders, this can be energizing rather than restrictive.—
Gustaf Lundberg Toresson,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Neuroscience has long shown that watching another person experience pain activates the same neural regions as experiencing pain ourselves.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Key (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/key%20%28up%29. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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