as in provoking
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as in activating
to cause to function
mold triggers my allergies
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Recent Examples of triggering
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 June 2026
Feels-like temperatures are expected to soar up to 120 degrees in parts of Texas on Thursday, June 18, triggering extreme heat warnings and advisories in several parts of the state, according to the National Weather Service.
—Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 18 June 2026
Even sparks or embers carried by the wind can ignite nearby leaves or grass, triggering a fire that spreads rapidly.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 18 June 2026
In 2024, the Canadian women’s national team was accused of using a drone to spy on a New Zealand training session in the days leading up to its opening match at the Paris Olympics, triggering a spying scandal that led to sanctions against Canada.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026
Efforts over the next three and a half months failed to reopen the strait, triggering a global energy crisis and major economic damage to the UAE and the other Gulf states.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 17 June 2026
The reactors at the Fukushima nuclear power plant were flooded, triggering a nuclear disaster which forced more than 150,000 people to evacuate.
—Literary Hub, 17 June 2026
This brings hotter temperatures to the western parts of the Americas, triggering El Niño effects.
—Hali Smith
june 17, Idaho Statesman, 17 June 2026
The 2026 Social Security Trustees Report moved the program’s day of reckoning squarely into the next presidential term, projecting that the retirement trust fund will be depleted in 2032 — triggering an automatic 22% cut to every retirement and survivor benefit.
—Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Verb
Scientists have discovered that seismic waves from Japan’s devastating 2011 earthquake traveled to Earth’s core and back, triggering a second tectonic slip event that shifted the country eastward by up to 6 millimeters.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 June 2026
Feels-like temperatures are expected to soar up to 120 degrees in parts of Texas on Thursday, June 18, triggering extreme heat warnings and advisories in several parts of the state, according to the National Weather Service.
—Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 18 June 2026
Even sparks or embers carried by the wind can ignite nearby leaves or grass, triggering a fire that spreads rapidly.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 18 June 2026
In 2024, the Canadian women’s national team was accused of using a drone to spy on a New Zealand training session in the days leading up to its opening match at the Paris Olympics, triggering a spying scandal that led to sanctions against Canada.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026
Efforts over the next three and a half months failed to reopen the strait, triggering a global energy crisis and major economic damage to the UAE and the other Gulf states.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 17 June 2026
The reactors at the Fukushima nuclear power plant were flooded, triggering a nuclear disaster which forced more than 150,000 people to evacuate.
—Literary Hub, 17 June 2026
This brings hotter temperatures to the western parts of the Americas, triggering El Niño effects.
—Hali Smith
june 17, Idaho Statesman, 17 June 2026
The 2026 Social Security Trustees Report moved the program’s day of reckoning squarely into the next presidential term, projecting that the retirement trust fund will be depleted in 2032 — triggering an automatic 22% cut to every retirement and survivor benefit.
—Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for triggering
Adjective
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Our editors and critics choose the most captivating, notable, brilliant, surprising, absorbing, weird, thought-provoking, and talked-about books.—
Namara Smith,
New Yorker,
10 June 2026
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The ways the siblings cope with their versions of reality are quite different, quite haunting and quite thought-provoking.—
Bethanne Patrick,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Philadelphia declared a heat health emergency for Thursday and Friday, activating cooling centers, home visits by field teams, outreach to people experiencing homelessness and other services.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
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Wisp will be activating at Pride events in New York City this month, with staff on the ground having one-on-one conversations.—
Geri Stengel,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Adjective
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Different genes for different cytokines, growth factors or other proteins could be swapped in to target specific diseases of the ocular surface, potentially extending the approach beyond corneal wounds to chronic inflammatory conditions.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
16 June 2026
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The technology could eventually treat corneal injuries, severe dry eye disease and other inflammatory disorders of the ocular surface, though it has not yet been tested in humans.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
Verb
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The Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday in Texas, capturing the franchise's first championship since 1973 and sparking jubilant scenes throughout the city.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
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Eleven current and former nurses in Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s fifth floor maternity wing were diagnosed with brain tumors, sparking concern from employees and the community.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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Drafted seventh overall by the San Francisco 49ers in 2011 out of Missouri, Smith had one of the most explosive starts for a defensive player in NFL history.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
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In recent weeks, Iran has dramatically escalated efforts to seal off its cache of near bomb-grade uranium, deliberately collapsing tunnels and booby-trapping entrances with explosive mines, according to five sources familiar with US intelligence.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
Verb
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And much of their Finals journey was overshadowed by the OJ Simpson case that began with a white Ford Bronco slowly driving down Southern California freeways in the middle of the opening game.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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Investigators said Morabia Siddhi Suresh, 33, of Fremont, California, had been driving in rainy conditions when she was involved in a separate collision, according to Kentucky State Police.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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Coming to the glum realization that love isn’t outlasting infatuation is trickier to write about than a more incendiary subject like unfaithfulness, but Rodrigo pulls it off.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
12 June 2026
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The most incendiary musical comedy of 2025 will advance to the off-Broadway Orpheum Theatre in October, and its creators are marking the show’s return with, not surprisingly, two provocative events.—
Frank DiGiacomo,
HollywoodReporter,
12 June 2026
Verb
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City analyst Jamison Larson said the economic development study will likely identify new revenue-generating options for Folsom to consider, including increasing ticket prices.—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
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However, upon release, both Hollywood and audiences weren’t too sure what to make of Carrey’s latest comedy vehicle, with his (then) record-setting $20 million payday being used as a headline-generating critical lightning rod.—
Simon Bland,
IndieWire,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Triggering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/triggering. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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