as in triggers
to cause to function
set off a bomb
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Recent Examples of sets off
Eager to convince the family of her and March’s love, Nat sets off to become a useful ghost and offers to cleanse the factory.
—
Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
The death sets off a chain of events that forces Lilian to revisit her fractured family life and complicated bond with her ex-husband.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
How language encodes value judgments Such logic sets off alarm bells for anyone familiar with the history of eugenics, a movement that began with the idea of improving America by making its people healthier and quickly evolved to make judgments about who is and is not fit to participate in society.
—Megan Donelson, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2025
The character Kracht sets off on a sentimental road trip with his demented, aging mother, who is also addicted to both drugs and alcohol.
—The Know, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
The detail on the cuffs is subtle (a nod to the railway tracks that once served the Liverpool docklands where their new stadium has been built) but sets off the rest of the shirt really nicely.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
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
This sets off a potent immune response that’s hard to stop.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
The death sets off a chain of events that forces Lilian to revisit her fractured family life and complicated bond with her ex-husband.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
How language encodes value judgments Such logic sets off alarm bells for anyone familiar with the history of eugenics, a movement that began with the idea of improving America by making its people healthier and quickly evolved to make judgments about who is and is not fit to participate in society.
—Megan Donelson, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2025
The character Kracht sets off on a sentimental road trip with his demented, aging mother, who is also addicted to both drugs and alcohol.
—The Know, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
The detail on the cuffs is subtle (a nod to the railway tracks that once served the Liverpool docklands where their new stadium has been built) but sets off the rest of the shirt really nicely.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
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
This sets off a potent immune response that’s hard to stop.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sets off
Verb
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The lights are programmed to change from yellow to red or green when the freeway traffic is going slower than 60 mph, which triggers the signals to control traffic flow entering the freeway.—
Frank Witsil,
Freep.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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This suggests that swearing triggers a boost, which allows the body to perform better in a short-term physical task.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Libra season begins on the 22nd, spotlighting your communication zone, and Mars in Scorpio activates your home sector the very same day.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
29 Aug. 2025
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Breathwork also activates the vagus nerve, which plays a key role in mood and anxiety regulation.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In the first lawsuit, the Justice Department blamed the January 7 Eaton Fire on faulty SCE power infrastructure or sparks from that infrastructure, causing the burning of nearly 8,000 acres in Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles County.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
4 Sep. 2025
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When a chance meeting sparks a connection, their bond deepens, and secrets and holiday pressures force them to face what truly matters.—
Breanne L. Heldman,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Marswalker opens its fold-out front doors, and the S2 drives up into a central compartment before the doors close again to secure the S2 in place.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Sep. 2025
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Attendees acknowledged early how much of what drives housing costs lies outside city and state control, such as interest rates or labor and material supply.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This risk decreases as the storm moves away.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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During a total lunar eclipse, the moon moves into the Earth's inner shadow, which is known as the umbra.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sets off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sets%20off. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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