KEY (UP) Synonyms: 62 Similar and Opposite Words

key (up)

verb

Definition of key (up)

as in to set off

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for key (up)

Verb

That set off a flurry of Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure, and the Houthis’ announcement of a blockade against Saudi shipping on the Red Sea — now the main corridor for Saudi energy exports.

— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
That his name was leaked as a prospective future CEO to drama-seeking observers only set off erroneous ripple effects of speculation that Solomon was headed out the door.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of set off

Verb

While those examples seem to be politically motivated, a lot of it is just con-artistry.

— Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026
Instead, Cohen said the women who reported him immediately only wanted to ensure Weinberg couldn’t use the photos to blackmail them — and those who came forward later were likely motivated by monetary gain.

— Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of motivate

Verb

While the Blue Demon induces perceptual disorientation, the Rooster privileges visual attention and the architectural discipline of gaze.

— Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
The drug induces a powerful loss of personal identity and a brief but total dissolution of time and space.

— Ryan Sullivan, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of induce

Verb

Swift, who was wearing a Chiefs tank top at Sunday night’s game, didn’t need to be well-versed in football to get pumped up when Kelce scored a touchdown.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
For its part, Florida hoped for a Sinclair victory to pump up its own moribund economy.

— Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of pump up

Verb

After living in the City of Lights for more than a decade, the designer said he was drawn to its features, which informed his palette that runs from sky blues to Seine greens, via tones inspired by its typical stone buildings.

— Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2026
Find more long cardigans inspired by Stewart at Amazon below.

— Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of inspire

Verb

Worse still, the most energizing talks tended to be ignored by many of the academics in attendance, who preferred to ask questions that indirectly linked back to their area of specialism.

— Bartolomeo Sala, The Dial, 29 Sep. 2026
Its conversational lyrics, lively rhythm and undeniable chemistry give the song a confident, energizing swagger.

— qygwork, Billboard, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of energize

Verb

More than 120 National Guard members were activated, part of roughly 400 statewide after the governor issued an emergency proclamation.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2026
Business continuity treats disruption as the baseline condition and designs operations accordingly, with integrated data, predictive intelligence and prebuilt response playbooks that activate before a situation has fully materialized.

— Abha Dogra, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of activate

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

keys (up)

key (up)

khan

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Key (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/key%20%28up%29. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of key (up)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

adventitious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes