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
Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2025
Mid-ride, guests will set off on foot to encounter some of the most iconic villains from Blumhouse’s popular horror franchises, including The Grabber from The Black Phone, the possessed from The Exorcist: Believer, the killers from The Purge franchise and M3GAN herself.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 8 Aug. 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
On Bill Veeck Night, the Sox were schooled that the late former owner came up with many crazy ideas, including the one for the exploding center-field scoreboard, which sets off fireworks after White Sox home runs.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2025
Mid-ride, guests will set off on foot to encounter some of the most iconic villains from Blumhouse’s popular horror franchises, including The Grabber from The Black Phone, the possessed from The Exorcist: Believer, the killers from The Purge franchise and M3GAN herself.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 8 Aug. 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
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Or a dormant service account suddenly becoming active might trigger a review.—
Craig Davies,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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Starvation can occur long before famine is declared Because all three thresholds must be met to trigger a famine designation, many people may be starving well before phase five is reached.—
Nurith Aizenman,
NPR,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Thus, gilt has been applied to all manner of ornaments and architectural detailing in the homes of the historical well-to-do.—
Elizabeth Fazzare,
Architectural Digest,
14 Aug. 2025
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Flashy skull ornaments were important to tyrannosaurs from the start.—
Riley Black,
Smithsonian Magazine,
22 July 2025
Verb
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The Pro Bowl linebacker was finally activated from the physically unable to perform list last Sunday after 11 months of rehabbing and trying to get back on the practice field.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
16 Aug. 2025
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About 800 National Guard troops are being activated, with Humvees parked along the Washington Monument and near Union Station.—
John Seewer,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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When all of the ornamentation falls away, especially now that the show’s in its third season, Billeter thinks that the camera and the composition of the frame can really get at the emotional storylines.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
12 Aug. 2025
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Seventeenth-century colonists believed that hairstyling—such as its ornamentation and its length—offered important evidence of a person’s social identity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2025
Verb
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The brawl has sparked a broader conversation about crime and safety in Cincinnati.—
Cameron Knight,
The Enquirer,
14 Aug. 2025
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Platforms now prioritize authentic engagement and posts that spark genuine discussions over polished corporate messaging.—
Daniel Lotzof,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Spirit Halloween serves as a source for Halloween costumes, as well as indoor and outdoor home decorations – a pursuit more Americans have been swept up in.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
21 Aug. 2025
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Photographs taken inside the home at the time showcase the property’s original stonework, elaborate plaster cornices and ceiling decoration, according to PA.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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CTOs now sit at the strategic heart of organizations, driving revenue growth, operational efficiency and competitive advantage.—
Mary Elizabeth Bradford,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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Some round-trip flights to San Francisco, Salt Lake City and Denver are priced lower than the cost of driving to get there.—
Michael Salerno,
AZCentral.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
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When wage garnishment begins, companies will be confronted more directly with the severity of their workers’ financial situations, says MacPhetres.—
Brit Morse,
Fortune,
10 July 2025
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Starting July 24, the higher wage garnishments will go into effect until the full overpayment has been resolved.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Set off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set%20off. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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