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set in motion

verb

Definition of set in motionnext
as in to stir (up)

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for set in motion
  1. provoke
  2. pick
  3. incite
Verb
  • At the start of the war, many economists and analysts feared that the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz would provoke an acute energy crisis and economic downturn, or worse.
    — RICHARD HAASS, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Tom Cruise‘s Digger is being called a very big swing of a dramatic satire that’s provoking very mixed reactions after the film’s first press screenings.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of provoke
Verb
  • Sherrill picked Caldwell as her running mate in July 2025 and named him as her administration’s secretary of state in December 2025 after the pair won their November election by a double-digit margin.
    — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Joe says picking Katie is either going to work out great for them or backfire.
    — Alice Burton, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of pick
Verb
  • Stock futures climbed Wednesday evening following a market sell-off incited by the first Federal Reserve interest rate hike in three years.
    — Justina Lee,Tanaya Macheel, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Reportedly, the nation has framed it as a necessary step to counter growing counterspace threats from Russia and China, while Beijing has warned against inciting a space arms race.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of incite
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

set in
set in motion
set off
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Set in motion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set%20in%20motion. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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