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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of set off
Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2026
Heavy rain and strong winds from last weekend’s storm set off dangerous flooding, landslides, sinkholes and knocked out power to thousands across the state.
—Ritu Prasad, CNN Money, 20 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
Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire.
—Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2026
Heavy rain and strong winds from last weekend’s storm set off dangerous flooding, landslides, sinkholes and knocked out power to thousands across the state.
—Ritu Prasad, CNN Money, 20 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
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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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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
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Behind them a young man with a paint-flecked beard followed the designer about the set, twitching the hem of the velvet curtains hung at the window and rearranging the ornaments on the mantelpiece.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The pattern-aware Moon activates your 10th House of Career, supporting practical steps that showcase your skills and leadership in all settings.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
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In fact, during most movements, your core muscles naturally activate to stabilize your spine while your limbs move, says certified strength and conditioning specialist Susie Reiner, who’s also an assistant professor in the exercise science department at Seton Hall University.—
Jenny McCoy,
Outside,
23 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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The case has sparked a broader conversation about the military’s use of artificial intelligence in weapons systems and the level of deference AI companies should give to the government in how their technology is used.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Mar. 2026
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The proposal was not substantially different from one the two sides had already agreed on before the deaths sparked demands for more changes, according to a person granted anonymity to discuss the details, which have not been publicly released.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The clean lines and walls in neutral or primary colors happen to adhere to the aesthetic values of the Bauhaus style, though for Morgan, sparse decoration is about something much simpler.—
Wendy Goodman,
Curbed,
21 Mar. 2026
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Our board voted to suspend enforcement of some holiday decoration rules but did not say which holiday rules.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
Oc Register,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His dream of a free Havana became a driving force.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
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In October 2025, an attacker drove his car into people gathered outside a Manchester synagogue to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur and stabbed one person to death.—
KRUTIKA PATHI,
Arkansas Online,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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If that window expires and no lawsuit is filed, creditors generally lose the legal right to take you to court, so garnishment is an unlikely outcome in these cases.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
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The estate’s representative obtained a writ of garnishment on March 2 to collect on the judgment from Gottlieb’s bank account.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Set off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set%20off. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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