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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 The goal is to stay active without repeatedly setting off the pain. — Angela Haupt, Time, 10 Nov. 2026 The verdict came just three days after regulators seized Ueno Bank, cutting nearly 3 million customers off from their savings and bank cards and setting off a political crisis. — Arkansas Online, 7 Nov. 2026 Regulators had seized Ueno Bank just three days earlier, sending shock waves through the financial system and setting off the country's worst political crisis in more than a decade. — CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026 Davis announced plans to retire in July 2025, setting off a frenzied dash of more than a dozen candidates to represent one of America’s bluest congressional districts. — Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026 On the final day of the journey, Bushby pushed his cart toward a hero’s welcome at City Hall before setting off for the last stretch to see his mother. — ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026 Valentine and McClain split just before the LP dropped, setting off decades of revolving lineups centered around Iris and stalwart keyboardist Avsec. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2026 But the wool industry that had once sustained the ranchers was in decline, in part because of overgrazing, and the countryside was emptying of young people, who were setting off for more populated areas. — Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 There are the now-traditional scenes in which Carrie learns to consciously control her telekinetic superpowers, previously manifested by accidentally setting off car alarms, opening mailboxes and causing a rain of rocks on her parents’ roof. — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for setting off

Verb

The next day, historic flooding tore through parts of the region — washing out highways, triggering rock and mudslides and cutting off communities that have spent more than a week navigating lengthy detours.

— Kelly Werthmann, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
Once these new authorities are in place, Rodríguez is expected to declare the presidency vacant, triggering a six-month deadline for elections, according to the State Department.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of triggering

Verb

It can be customized via the Settings app for a cornucopia of use cases, including activating Silent Mode, Focus, Flashlight, Magnifier, Translate, and even third-party apps like the music ID tool Shazam.

— Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 7 Nov. 2026
Gamma is also a frequency that is ideally suited for activating inhibitory neurons, which scientists believe are dysfunctional in Alzheimer’s and play a major role in balancing the amount of activity in neural circuits.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of activating

Verb

Growing concern over microplastics and sustainability is sparking a wave of plastic-free coffee pods and machines.

— Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2026
The pirate crew is said to have tortured, killed and raped those aboard the royal ship, sparking global outrage and what is considered the first worldwide manhunt.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of sparking

Verb

The tokens burned spitting out anti-Waymo opinions are part of a monthslong battle between Waymo and its rivals over whether the autonomous driving company can operate commercially on the streets of several major cities.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 9 Nov. 2026
There was even a Panthers defensive stand in which the Broncos only burned 59 seconds and the Panthers had the ball, driving, with two minutes left in the game — only five points down.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2026

Definition of driving

Verb

And some players are turning on the season as seen by them letting the Jaguars tear through weak tackle attempts to the tune of 183 rushing yards and three passing TDs by Trevor Lawrence.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
But Salazar, who, amazingly, is also a Cuban American former news anchor, is now reckoning with her district increasingly turning on the President amid economic pressure and an immigration crackdown that is extremely unpopular among Latinos.

— Daniel Castro, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of turning on

Verb

The rule was not intended to apply to those from the 2022 class who had exhausted their eligibility, touching off a wave of lawsuits filed by athletes in a variety of sports all over the country.

— Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 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

This reduces computational requirements, allowing the system to operate on a moving robot with limited processing resources.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
Over the last few decades, the percentage of children diagnosed with myopia has moved steadily upward, while age at diagnosis appears to be moving down.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026