sets in motion

verb

present tense third-person singular of set in motion
as in whips (up)

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sets in motion
  1. provokes
  2. picks
  3. incites
  4. ferments
Verb
  • In my own research, threatening a man’s sense of manhood – but not a woman’s womanhood – reliably provokes aggression, and the men who react most strongly are those who feel the most pressure to live up to masculine ideals.
    — Adam Stanaland, The Conversation, 20 July 2026
  • However, his light-hearted approach provokes the hostility of the church.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 17 July 2026
Definition of provokes
Verb
  • In a nod to the owners trying to get MLB to look more like the NBA or the NFL, the MLBPA proposed the possibility of trading draft picks in the first ten rounds, something that is not currently allowed.
    — Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Suzanne picks Billy, Will, and Kurt to ride horses with her while the rest picnic with Amy.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 July 2026
Definition of picks
Verb
  • Every day, there’s seemingly some new report or rumor that incites the social media machine.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • The rule will also apply to any team official who incites players to leave the field of play in protest.
    — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026
Definition of incites
Verb
  • Sourdough starter is a slow leavener that ferments the dough, which is what makes sourdough bread healthier.
    — Victoria Spencer, Martha Stewart, 18 July 2026
  • My personal favorite is A Pizzeri, where Michele, its pizza master, slowly ferments his dough everyday and maintains a large stack of olive branches for firewood.
    — Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 16 June 2026
Definition of ferments
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.

Browse Nearby Words

sets in
sets in motion
sets off
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Cite this Entry

“Sets in motion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sets%20in%20motion. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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