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
Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026
High-sugar snacks before bed cause the exact blood sugar spike-and-crash that sets off a 3 AM cortisol wake-up.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
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 quest, which put her in touch with dozens of victims, generated an award-winning series in the Miami Herald that set off a chain reaction culminating in Epstein’s 2019 arrest, Acosta’s resignation and, two years later, the sentencing of Epstein associate and co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026
High-sugar snacks before bed cause the exact blood sugar spike-and-crash that sets off a 3 AM cortisol wake-up.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
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
-
The incident triggered a grand jury investigation.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
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These seemingly innocuous actions can kindle dry grass, potentially triggering a wildfire.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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What remains in a lot of these tracks, then, are dazzling little ornaments.—
Joshua Minsoo Kim,
Pitchfork,
24 Mar. 2026
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The store’s display of wooden German pieces, for example, are reproductions of a line of German ornaments from the late 1920s.—
Emily M. Olson,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The lefty underwent an elbow cleanup procedure at the start of the offseason; the Yankees hope to activate him sometime in April.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
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Like a grill, when activated by an operator, the drone stations open a lid.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Pale, dusty hues enhance natural light, offering a subtle counterpoint to the rich ornamentation, while ceiling paintings by Vicke Andrén, celebrated for his work at the Royal Swedish Opera, underscore the apartment’s artistic importance.—
Mark David,
Robb Report,
23 Mar. 2026
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One of the White House’s most compelling features has always been its domestic scale and ornamentation.—
Edward Keegan,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Graves’ exit has sparked intense speculation about his potential successor to represent Missouri’s 6th Congressional District, which stretches across northern Missouri and touches Kansas City’s Northland.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
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The story quickly sparked fury among Threads users, with many siding with the original poster and criticizing the seat swap request.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Shoppers can also find mini refrigerators and even Christmas decorations.—
Madeleine Wright,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
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If fragrance wants to retain both cultural and commercial strength in the decades ahead, legacy must be treated not as decoration, but as infrastructure.—
Sudhir Gupta,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The decision to inaugurate the first urban Six Senses property in Rome was partially driven by the owner’s love of all things Italian and is part of a new drive to bring sanctuaries to bigger cities.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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Objects that are outdoors should be secured and caution should be taken if driving.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Mabrey says UCHealth is the biggest offender regarding wage garnishment.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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Among employers, Walmart had the most wage garnishments of its workers in Virginia, the report said.—
Ken Alltucker,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Set off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set%20off. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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