as in to set off
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Recent Examples of Synonyms for key (up)
Verb
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What happens when a movement built on peace sets off a chain of events that leaves a region fluent only in the language of violence?—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026 -
In September 1980, as the hostages were still in custody, Iraq launched a full-scale invasion of Iran, setting off a brutal, eight-year war between the two countries and prompting Tehran to change its view of its Tomcats.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The hackers never demanded a ransom, suggesting they were motivated by destruction and chaos, not profit.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
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The idea behind moonshot pay is that conventional salaries and bonuses don’t motivate the kind of tectonic risk-taking and visionary leadership that turns good companies into generational ones.—
Claire Zillman,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Played in full, Silent Way induces a pervasive nausea, reveling in gawky soundscapes that seem barely able to contain their outsized, clashing ideas.—
Maxie Younger,
Pitchfork,
27 Mar. 2026
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But after the Higgs discovery, the particle physics headlines went quiet again, with searches for other hypothesized particles yielding the sigh-inducing null result.—
Mariangela Lisanti,
Twin Cities,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Prior to Newbins stepping to the line, Jarocki pulled Kniyah Dumas aside and told her to pump up her fellow point guard.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
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Trashie has fully acquired Savvy Search AI, a discovery and recommendation search engine, as the recycling and rewards startup pumps up personalization across its platform.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Investigators have not released details of a suspect or motive in the shooting.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
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The Philadelphia Police Department's Homicide Unit is working to determine the circumstances and motive around the shooting.—
Alexandra Simon,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The charity event helps raise money for the Sixers Youth Foundation, a nonprofit started back in 2015, whose mission is to use the power of basketball and the influence of the Sixers to inspire future generations.—
Kerri Corrado,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Your 9th House of Expansion is energized by Venus and Chiron aligning, nudging you to choose growth over perfection in an expanding field.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
26 Mar. 2026
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Tiafoe said he was energized by the raucous Miami crowd.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The pattern-aware Moon activates your 10th House of Career, supporting practical steps that showcase your skills and leadership in all settings.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
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In fact, during most movements, your core muscles naturally activate to stabilize your spine while your limbs move, says certified strength and conditioning specialist Susie Reiner, who’s also an assistant professor in the exercise science department at Seton Hall University.—
Jenny McCoy,
Outside,
23 Mar. 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 31 Mar. 2026.
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