SETTING OFF Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

setting off

verb

present participle of set off

as in triggering

to cause to function set off a bomb

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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 setting off Experts said it was most likely caused by a partial glacier collapse that sent tons of ice and rock crashing down into the valley below, setting off a powerful landslide. — Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026 By fields of cotton and soybeans where his bees forage and pollinate, Foster Hensel pries open the lid of one of his beehives, setting off a rising hum from inside. — Drew Hawkins, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026 In a picturesque village, the mayor closed a road, setting off a storm with residents and the owners of a castle that once belonged to his family. — Peter Baker Alessandro Falco Mark Landler Michelle Goldberg, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 This year, Europe has been sweltering under an exceptionally hot and arid summer, with tinderbox conditions setting off unprecedented fires that have forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate homes and vacation spots. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 The peaceful exile is shattered when Ravana’s sister, Surpanakha (played by Rakul Preet Singh), becomes infatuated with Rama, setting off a chain of events that leads to her humiliation. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 July 2026 Think of it like setting off a firework inside of a long, narrow hallway (which, by the way, is a really bad idea). — Laura Kiniry, Popular Science, 16 July 2026 Many accounts were opted in by default, making their public photos available to the tool and setting off alarm in the entertainment industry. — Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026 Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire. — Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for setting off

Verb

Driven by artificial intelligence demand, memory chips are in short supply, pushing prices steadily higher and triggering explosive profit growth for Micron.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Officials are still investigating the exact cause, though preliminary assessments suggest an ice avalanche may have blocked a river upstream in Tibet, triggering the sudden outburst flood.

— Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of triggering

Verb

The Athletic reported on Sunday that Mateta was in dispute with Palace over the final year of his contract, which is set to expire next summer, with Palace activating an option to extend his deal by a further year last December.

— David Ornstein, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
That means enterprising Quest owners should be able to sideload apps without needing to register for a Meta Developer account and activating Developer Mode through Meta’s mobile app.

— Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of activating

Verb

Sophie has created a distinctive and original comedy, striking a chord and sparking debate with audiences across the country.

— Ellise Shafer, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Federal abandonment of kudzu left the plant to spread along the unmanaged margins of the region, sparking exaggerated fears about its unchecked growth.

— The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of sparking

Verb

Economists can debate whether a top-15 economy should morph itself into a giant leveraged bet on the AI trade, one now driving growth to new highs rather than simply riding alongside it.

— William Pesek, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Still, several financial analysts have concluded that the prediction frenzy, with its sleek mobile apps and easy-to-understand odds, are driving the stock drops.

— Marshall Cohen, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of driving

Verb

The university prepared to wash its hands of this important part of its legacy, touching off a furious backlash.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026
With two minutes left in the period, Parayko ran Yurov into the boards from behind, touching off a fight between the Blues’ defenseman and Trenin.

— Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 14 Apr. 2026

Definition of touching off

Verb

Instead of simply moving the body without the patient’s involvement, HAL responds to the person’s own intention to move.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Others are already moving confidently through modern cities, studying, working and shaping lives increasingly separate from traditional expectations.

— PhotoVogue, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2026