as in to trigger
to cause to function
set off a bomb
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in ornament
something that decorates or beautifies
the architect used stone carvings as setoffs for the building's marble facing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of set off
Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 24 Sep. 2025
The eclipse will rise over mainland Antarctica and set off the Davis Sea coast of the Southern Ocean.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
That setoff a worldwide hunt for the impact site.
—Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2019
See All Example Sentences for set off
Verb
That’s because, after nearly a week of staying silent, Kimmel is finally expected to address Disney’s decision to suspend his show last Wednesday, setting off a free speech firestorm.
—Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 24 Sep. 2025
The eclipse will rise over mainland Antarctica and set off the Davis Sea coast of the Southern Ocean.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
That setoff a fast-moving timeline that will ultimately determine if third graders who fall short on the test will move on to fourth grade or be held back.
—Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
That setoff a worldwide hunt for the impact site.
—Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2019
See All Example Sentences for set off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for set off
Verb
-
Clubs such as United reassess the probability of the clause’s triggering at each reporting date, and adjust the registration cost accordingly.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
-
The United Nations issued a statement about the mishap, saying that the elevator stopping might have been triggered for safety as a videographer was standing backwards ahead of the president trying to film him.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Sew letters, stars, and shapes to hang on your tree, making sure to stuff the ornaments with cotton before sewing them closed to give a 3-D look.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Sep. 2025
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At Christmas, beginning at Thanksgiving, the restaurant became a landscape of shimmering presents, trees and ornaments.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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On a typical two-lane road, drivers going in both directions are required to stop when a school bus activates its red flashing lights and extends the stop arm.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
21 Sep. 2025
-
Bet on either of these games to activate your offer from BetMGM Sportsbook.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Around her neck, a rope of heavy onyx beads provided practical ornamentation.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Sep. 2025
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It was mostly composed of only one skull bone instead of the two bones seen in later species and largely lacked the knobby horns that other pachycephalosaurs had as ornamentation.—
Jack Tamisiea,
Scientific American,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But the president’s crackdown, which has seen one immigrant fatally shot by a federal agent, has sparked nearly around-the-clock protest at the facility located about 12 miles west of the Willis Tower.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
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Hundreds of lightning strikes sparked across the Bay Area as a low pressure system passed through the region this week, bringing a spattering of rain and a cooldown that is set to end as temperatures heat up again.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The most dominant style was arguably a very minimalist black knee-high, with a glossy finish and very little decoration.—
Emma Spedding,
Vogue,
19 Sep. 2025
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Simple decorations like shiny mirrors and sophisticated dining chairs can also have a big impact on your space.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
PEOPLE,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Hernandez Santana then drove to the front of the station and fired three shots into the building’s lobby, prosecutors said.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
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Then the group would load the vehicles with drugs and drive them across the border.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Whitney warns that the situation is poised to worsen, with impending wage garnishment for seriously delinquent student-loan debt set to further squeeze this cohort.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
8 Sep. 2025
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What about garnishments, child support deductions after final paycheck?—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Set off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set%20off. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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