as in to set off
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for key (up)
Verb
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Fine’s husband, Michael, lost an arm after a car crash in 2010, setting off her yearslong work on health care legislation.—
Olivia Olander,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026 -
The sound of sirens set off a pack of coyotes near the eagle nest in Glen Hazel.—
Lauren Linder,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Officials have said there is no indication that either the men arrested in connection with the explosives in New York, or the man responsible for Thursday’s Old Dominion University shooting, were motivated explicitly by the Iran war.—
Eric Tucker,
Fortune,
14 Mar. 2026
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Authorities said Hasan was motivated by Islamic extremism and opposition to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Texas called Cal Higgins out of the bullpen, and the Western Kentucky transfer induced a run-scoring groundout and foul-out before issuing the team's second walk of the inning.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
14 Mar. 2026
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Taylor herself thinks Dakota calculated all of this to induce a breakdown and stop her from going on The Bachelorette.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After the material is pumped up to the ship, the Metals Company releases it back into the ocean, creating large, muddy underwater plumes.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
13 Mar. 2026
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The president dropped by a retreat at his Doral golf club to sell the Iran war and pump up Republican lawmakers ahead of the midterm elections.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Authorities are reviewing hours of footage but have not yet identified a suspect or motive in the case.—
Perry Vandell,
AZCentral.com,
2 Mar. 2026
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The Dolphins will likely attempt to drag this out, which could motive Achane to skip some portions, if not all, of the offseason program.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After their arrests, the men said they were inspired by the Islamic State group, according to law enforcement officials and a criminal complaint charging them with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
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Your efforts might even inspire further collaborations!—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But in the enhanced powerline safety setting, the devices will not attempt to re-energize the lines.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
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Pops of bold color help energize a space more than neutrals.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The moody Moon activates your 3rd House of Chatter while squaring radical Uranus in your 6th House of Sensibility, prompting updates in accordance with shifting timelines.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
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The discount is particularly useful for travelers planning to attend premium events such as playoff games, arena concerts, or high-demand theater shows, since ticket prices for those experiences often exceed the $150 minimum required to activate the promotion.—
Paris Wilson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 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 18 Mar. 2026.
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