triggering 1 of 2

adjective

as in provoking

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Dissimilar Words

triggering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of trigger
as in activating
to cause to function mold triggers my allergies

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 triggering
Verb
Mitochondria also play central roles in detecting and reacting to stress, and even in triggering cells to self-destruct if damage is deemed too great. — Rachel Nuwer, Quanta Magazine, 17 July 2026 Smoke causes inflammation by triggering the body’s immune system to go into overtime to fight the irritant. — Seth Borenstein, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026 Without a triggering event, the decay stays visible only to the people doing the extra work. — Kerry Huang, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 Company founder Elon Musk later posted on X that some of the 33 Raptor engines on Super Heavy did not light triggering the automatic launch abort. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 July 2026 They were invaded in 1982 under orders from Argentina’s then-military dictatorship, triggering a 10-week war won by Britain. — Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026 Smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to blanket parts of the Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast, triggering air quality alerts and turning skies hazy from Chicago to New York City. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 16 July 2026 The visit contrasts with the approach by former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose government publicly criticized Saudi Arabia’s human rights record in 2018, triggering a diplomatic rift that lasted five years. — ABC News, 9 July 2026 The closure of the strait dragged on for months, triggering the biggest supply disruption in history. — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 9 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for triggering
  1. provoking
  2. activating
  3. inflammatory
  4. sparking
  5. explosive
  6. driving
  7. incendiary
  8. generating
Adjective
  • The Best Books of the Year (So Far) Our editors and critics choose the most captivating, notable, brilliant, surprising, absorbing, weird, thought-provoking, and talked-about books.
    — Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 24 June 2026
  • Chiarella has come up with an ingenious premise that is as twisted as it is thought-provoking.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
Definition of provoking
Verb
  • And speaking of fares, while activating the rear door OMNY readers will provide for somewhat faster boarding, the MTA made a big mistake in getting rid of the off-board fare payments that were used for Select Bus Service.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 9 July 2026
  • By activating these receptors, the peptide can increase melanin production and thus make skin look more tan.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 9 July 2026
Definition of activating
Adjective
  • It can also be used in patients who are at low risk but may have risk factors, such as a family history of inflammatory conditions, to try to guide when to start treatment to lower cholesterol and prevent heart attacks.
    — Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 10 July 2026
  • Choose calming, barrier-supportive ingredients – Soothing serums and creams can help to interrupt the inflammatory cascade, especially for those with sensitive skin.
    — Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026
Definition of inflammatory
Verb
  • An infection characterized by severe diarrhea is sparking low-grade panic over produce.
    — Yasmin Vossoughian, NBC news, 15 July 2026
  • These seemingly small actions can lead to dry grass ignition, potentially sparking a wildfire.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
Definition of sparking
Adjective
  • The disease is caused by a parasite that contaminates fresh produce and can cause days of watery, sometimes explosive diarrhea.
    — Kendall Staton, Washington Post, 17 July 2026
  • There are also thunderclaps, which are loud, explosive sounds of thunder that can accompany an extremely close lightning strike.
    — Laura Kiniry, Popular Science, 16 July 2026
Definition of explosive
Verb
  • Rodríguez Castro can be seen wearing a New York Yankees shirt, moving suggestively to driving percussive beats, punctuated by catchy, syncopated vocals.
    — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • Rainy weather driving tips Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.
    — STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 July 2026
Definition of driving
Adjective
  • Defenders of Brooks insisted any abolitionist speech was too incendiary to deserve protected status.
    — Paul Quigley, The Conversation, 13 July 2026
  • Shane Cautillo, 29, was charged with possession of a hoax incendiary device, possession of a hoax device or substance, unlawful possession of fireworks, and disorderly conduct on a public conveyance, a statement from the DA’s office said.
    — Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 9 July 2026
Definition of incendiary
Verb
  • The first World Cup in North America for 32 years is generating record attendances, TV viewing figures, and revenues.
    — Chris Pope, Washington Post, 15 July 2026
  • In a new Fortune report, my colleague Amanda Gerut examines why investors appear willing to assign Amazon-like valuation multiples to a company generating only a few percent of Amazon’s revenue while still reporting operating losses.
    — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 14 July 2026
Definition of generating

Browse Nearby Words

trigger-happy
triggering
triggerman
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Triggering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/triggering. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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