as in to trigger
to cause to function
set off a bomb
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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.
Recent Examples of set off
Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2025
The film won the Audience Award at Venice Film Festival parallel section Giornate degli Autori in September and has since played at a raft of festivals including London, Athens and Montpellier, and will soon be setting off for the MENA autumn circuit.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Nov. 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
More would follow, setting off the Family Research Council, according to Thea Glassman's 2023 book Freaks, Geeks, and Dawson's Creek.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2025
The film won the Audience Award at Venice Film Festival parallel section Giornate degli Autori in September and has since played at a raft of festivals including London, Athens and Montpellier, and will soon be setting off for the MENA autumn circuit.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Nov. 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
-
Mismanagement by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Mahinda Rajapaksa’s brother who was elected in 2019, triggered mass protests.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
-
The raid triggered widespread condemnation from news organizations and press freedom advocates.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The resort has transformed one of its bars into a pop-up experience filled with holiday decor such as Christmas trees, presents, colorful lights and ornaments hanging from the ceiling.—
Abby Hamblin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Nov. 2025
-
This set includes two ornaments in a silver hue with a gold topper and a durable monofilament hanging string.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
During inquiries, the ICO found 178 active email accounts using passwords identical or similar to those set by the organization’s IT desk when the account was activated.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
-
In cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a safe spot, like a nearby business parking lot, to pull over and stop.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Comparable in size to the Arc de Triomphe, the Porte Monumentale also contained surface ornamentation based on Haeckel’s exacting lifelong documentation of organisms to be found in the world’s oceans.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The Cabinet Room of the White House has also gotten some golden ornamentation added.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Brown was 20 at the time, and Bongiovi was 22, which sparked some online controversy.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
China’s apparent surge in missile production comes as the US expends sophisticated defense systems in Ukraine and Israel, causing some ammunition shortages and sparking debate in Washington about how and where to deploy its high-end weapons.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Glassware without a microwave-safe label should not be used, including non-tempered glass, antique or fragile glassware, or glass with metallic trims or decorations.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
-
After a few days, store them for winter or display your pumpkins for autumn decorations.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The offer is available for dine-in and drive-thru only and is not valid through the McDonald’s app.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Timber, litter and understory vegetation are the main fuels driving the wildfire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In 2024, when the court ordered the wage garnishment, Lopez earned an annual salary of $28,419 for serving as a Unified Government commissioner, according to the Kansas Policy Institute.—
Sofi Zeman,
Kansas City Star,
22 Oct. 2025
-
And people wrote letters to the courts saying wage garnishment would exacerbate their already dire financial situations.—
Rae Ellen Bichell,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Set off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set%20off. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share