triggering 1 of 2

adjective

as in provoking

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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
Prosecutors argued that the building caught on fire, triggering a massive explosion and propelling canisters in the air, one of which fatally struck Salter in the head. — Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026 The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget marked the occasion by noting that the retirement program’s trust fund is projected to be depleted in six years, triggering an automatic benefit reduction of about 22% under current law. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026 The city uses live fuel moisture, which is the percentage of water in plants, as a threshold for triggering the order. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026 These cameras detect vehicles that enter an intersection after a traffic light has turned red, triggering the camera to capture a video of the violation and an image of the license plate, according to the company's website. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026 Mamdani's government filed a motion to seek an appeal, triggering an automatic stay. — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026 Conversely, a company may prevail in court while still suffering reputational harm, triggering a decline in share value, eroding stakeholder trust and reinforcing negative narratives. — Alona Karpinska, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Early Tuesday morning, the volcano spewed lava that reached a height of about 300 meters (984 feet), triggering red alerts, evacuations, a highway’s closure, and the suspension of classes in three departments. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 At the same time, many areas are expanding this type of infrastructure, triggering a backlash against cyclists from people who resent the loss of lanes and parking spaces dedicated to cars. — ArsTechnica, 5 Aug. 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
  • New York City is activating its heat and flash flood emergency plans for Thursday and Friday due to dangerous temperatures and storms in the forecast.
    — Katie Houlis, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Beyond sleep, tai chi helps lower blood pressure by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, the network of nerves that relaxes the body after stress or danger.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of activating
Adjective
  • Ultimately, GLP-1s are turning out to be metabolic and inflammatory drugs that happen to cause weight loss, rather than weight loss drugs with a long list of coincidental improvements.
    — Jesse M. Pines, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • But Ogles, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, was also beset by a history of inflammatory remarks, including calling for a ban on immigration from mostly Muslim countries.
    — Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of inflammatory
Verb
  • The operation has come under scrutiny, sparking questions as to whether those left on the decoy plane presumed to still be carrying the President were at risk.
    — Tiago Ventura, Time, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Once a quiet Mediterranean fishing village, Saint-Tropez exploded into a global hot spot in the 1950s, sparking a massive, decades-long surge in tourism, the National Geographic reported.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of sparking
Adjective
  • Now that Oduwa has turned the corner into becoming a dominant lineman for the Rockets, Schultz and the rest of the linebackers and secondary can be even more explosive.
    — Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Separately, Razvozhayev said five people ‌were killed ​in Sevastopol overnight during an ‌operation to dispose of ​an explosive device.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of explosive
Verb
  • These types of conversations help teens feel understood and strengthen trust, while uncovering more about what is really driving the desire to change up their look.
    — Liz Regalia, Parents, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Nearly 30 years to the day that Shakur was gunned down in the passenger seat of a BMW Knight was driving, Davis is accused of murder for allegedly giving his crew the order to open fire on Shakur in retaliation for a fight.
    — Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of driving
Adjective
  • Sixty-four of its cities had been reduced to rubble and ash by incendiary bombs, as a submarine blockade strangled its economy, cutting off food, fuel, and raw materials.
    — James M. Scott, Time, 10 Aug. 2026
  • In 2024, an incendiary device ignited at a logistics center at the airport and set fire to a freight container, part of a plot that Western security officials suspect was organized by Russian intelligence.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of incendiary
Verb
  • The company plans to produce original films and acquire outside projects, with an emphasis on transparency, creator participation, and stories capable of generating cultural conversation.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix, returning in November, continues to be a massive economic driver, generating billions and attracting a high-spending international clientele.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 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 15 Aug. 2026.

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