triggered

verb

Definition of triggerednext
past tense of trigger
as in activated
to cause to function mold triggers my allergies

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 triggered Last week torrential rains triggered deadly mudslides and flooding in Cox’s Bazar, flattening shelters and killing more than a dozen people, including children. — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 16 July 2026 The stroke was triggered by high blood pressure and made worse by untreated sleep apnea, causing Miner to stop breathing. — Claire Harutunian, Charlotte Observer, 15 July 2026 Investors’ concerns that the war will last a long time has triggered high volumes of selling in financial markets, while hopes for a resolution and a freer flow of crude oil has inspired optimism and buying. — ABC News, 14 July 2026 Married to King Menelaus, Helen of Troy’s abduction or elopement with Paris, depending on the translation, triggered the 10-year war in Greek mythology. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 14 July 2026 As highlighted on the chart, the MACD triggered a bullish crossover on June 26th. — Nishant Pant, CNBC, 14 July 2026 They can be triggered by something as small as a single word, a passing comment, or a seemingly harmless decision or, as with Steve and Lilly, a seemingly appropriate request for clarification or small enhancement. — Susan MacKenty Brady, Fortune, 14 July 2026 The killings triggered calls for reform and street protests in Maine and Texas. — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026 Whether that quiet slipping is directly triggered by the movement of magma, however, has remained an open question. — Sam MacDonald, Scientific American, 8 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for triggered
  1. activated
  2. sparked
  3. drove
  4. generated
Verb
  • The latest study revealed that a certain protein is activated by high cholesterol intake and as a result, makes fewer LDL receptors able to do their job.
    — Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2026
  • Once activated, those brakes haul down this Cayenne with monstrous force, boosted via optional ceramic-composite brakes.
    — Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 15 July 2026
Definition of activated
Verb
  • Their study, which pointed to widespread same-sex pairing in nature, sparked a cultural debate across the country when it was published in Science magazine in 1977.
    — Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2026
  • The 29-year-old scored the last-minute winner at the Los Angeles Stadium against South Africa in the round of 32 that sparked wild celebrations.
    — Tom Burrows, New York Times, 12 July 2026
Definition of sparked
Verb
  • In April, in a four-game series against the New York Yankees, Trout hit five home runs and drove in nine runs.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • Liberal return policies surged during the pandemic, with free return windows that can extend to as much as six months, as lockdown-weary shoppers drove an e-commerce boom.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 9 July 2026
Definition of drove
Verb
  • If the measure passes, the costs of the audits would be paid via the revenues generated by the special tax.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • This horoscope was generated automatically using information from Sanctuary.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of generated

Browse Nearby Words

trigger
triggered
trigger-happy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Triggered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/triggered. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on triggered

Nglish: Translation of triggered for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of bibelot

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All