triggering 1 of 2

triggering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of trigger

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
Initial analysis suggests global warming exacerbated the melting of the glacier that snapped off in August, triggering flash floods. Mamita Bhandari, NPR, 23 Sep. 2026 Eight gunmen then stormed the compound, triggering a 20-hour gunbattle that killed at least 21 people, most of them police officers. ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026 Taken in context with previous research, the new findings suggest that the steady loss of Y chromosomes in a space creates localized inflammation, triggering tissues to go into a mode that predisposes them to cancer. Mike McRae 20, New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2026 Another Russian drone attack destroyed a shopping complex in Zaporizhzhia, injuring one person and triggering a fire, the emergency service said. Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026 They were rewarded by Kardashian’s arrival, clad in a formfitting tan midi dress with lace-up grommet detailing, triggering a storm of flashes and handshakes. Mary Wenthur, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026 Adidas recently was informed of UM’s agreement with Nike, triggering a short right-to-match period. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026 So are the mechanisms for triggering a video review, and so are the reviewable plays. Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026 After the announcement, China urged the United States to stop expanding its outer-space military and to stop preparing for war, warning that such moves risk triggering an orbital arms race. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for triggering
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
Verb
  • This worker should own every stage, including attracting attention, nurturing intent, converting demand, activating customers, maximizing revenue and turning customers into distribution.
    Jake Lee, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Researchers therefore began exploring partial reprogramming, briefly activating the Yamanaka factors in ways that appear to rejuvenate cells while maintaining their specialized identities.
    Venki Ramakrishnan, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • But this inflammatory spike is immediately counter-regulated by your body’s release of cytokines that suppress inflammation.
    Teresa Maalouf, Verywell Health, 18 Sep. 2026
  • That study measured a different protein, one found on inflammatory cells.
    Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Mining for copper fell in the first half of the year relative to the same period in 2025, sparking fears over long-term supplies of the metal, which is key for the clean energy transition and building data centers.
    Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The economics of journalism itself, and the war is sparking options traders’ interest.
    Michael Khouw, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Marisa Tomei, Kelly Macdonald, and David Harewood will star in the next legal battle, as their lawyers become embroiled in an explosive defamation case.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Two K-9s from the Sheriff's Department, which handles security at City Hall, indicated the bag could contain an explosive or materials related to a bomb, which prompted the evacuation.
    Frederick Sutton Sinclair, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Assigning officers to walk in community beat patrols instead of driving around in cars.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Health workers are receiving the Ervebo shot, a vaccine effective against a different Ebola strain than the Bundibugyo virus, which is driving this outbreak and has no licensed vaccine or treatment.
    Constant Same Bagalwa, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The incendiary documentary, revolving around the testimony of 24 Israeli intelligence officers and soldiers which have since been challenged by the Israeli army, has prompted a political firestorm in Israel.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The controversy is the latest in a long line of incendiary comments made by French that have been condemned by his fellow Republicans, many of whom have endorsed him.
    Texas Tribune, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • It is typically thought that generating new traits takes long periods of evolutionary time.
    Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Jackson has had difficulty generating the same enthusiasm among voters as his predecessor, Platner, who consistently held town halls across the state and had a viral social media presence.
    Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Triggering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/triggering. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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