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
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 As political support for climate action wanes globally, activists increasingly use courts, triggering legislative pushback. — Jon McGowan, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 Protections against the use of AI in film and television production were a point of contention in 2023 negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and major film studios, triggering a strike within the industry for the first time in more than a decade. — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 8 July 2026 Officials from Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) pleaded with the public to reduce air conditioning usage to avoid triggering blackouts. — Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 8 July 2026 Kyiv’s forces have especially targeted supplies to Crimea, triggering the worst fuel crisis on the Black Sea peninsula since it was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014 and delivering a blow to the Kremlin’s narrative that Moscow is winning the war. — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 Instead, the ultra-rich often hold onto their assets, allowing unrealized gains on stocks, bonds and other investments to compound in value for years without triggering taxes. — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 1 July 2026 The intense burst of X-rays released during the eruption reached Earth in just over 8 minutes, triggering strong (R3) radio blackouts across the daylight side of Earth. — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 1 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
  • In her first year activating, Rowe said, Her Fantasy Box arrived with 20,000 units and left with none.
    — Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • In Bridgeport, officials are activating the cooling center protocol from Wednesday through Friday.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2026
Definition of activating
Adjective
  • Obesity Excess fat tissue, especially around your belly, releases inflammatory chemicals like cytokines.
    — Brandi Jones, Verywell Health, 6 July 2026
  • And what that meant was democracy, still a very inflammatory term in 1850.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026
Definition of inflammatory
Verb
  • Emergency measures are working to stabilize an under-construction, high-rise building in Midtown Manhattan after its two support columns buckled, sparking concerns of a partial collapse, officials said.
    — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 8 July 2026
  • Both films premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, with The Invite sparking a major bidding war; it was eventually picked up by A24 for $12 million.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 July 2026
Definition of sparking
Adjective
  • From 2010 to 2024, Santa Clarita’s population grew 33% — explosive growth that came in part because, unlike overbuilt Los Angeles, the city has access to more open space for new residential development.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Cases of an explosive diarrheal parasite continue to skyrocket in Michigan, which is reporting 1,251 cases as of July 9.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 9 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
  • 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
  • The Pennsylvanian even pointed a finger at a popular progressive TV host, using the Reddit alias Platner donned for incendiary posts.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of incendiary
Verb
  • The jobs ratio used to select productions also favors animation since the category is often more labor-intensive than live-action, generating higher below-the-line spending relative to the total production budget.
    — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 7 July 2026
  • None of which precludes some of the erratic flows and structural fragilities that everyone is watching so closely from generating a bit of turbulence over the course of the summer.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 7 July 2026
Definition of generating

Browse Nearby Words

trigger-happy
triggering
triggerman
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Cite this Entry

“Triggering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/triggering. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of triggering for Spanish Speakers

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