as in provoking
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Iran’s hold over the critical Middle Eastern passageway has discouraged activity in the area, triggering a sweeping blockage of oil tankers and a global energy emergency.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 10 June 2026
Spikes in water temperatures often correspond with a drop in oxygen, which causes stress to fish, triggering mass die-offs, according to officials with the Capitol Region Watershed District.
—Tyler Quattrin, Twin Cities, 10 June 2026
Most contracts that athletes are signing have 'outs' for schools and third-party collectives, centered around breaking NCAA rules triggering a way for schools to get rid of the problem.
—Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
As the constituent galaxies get shoved together, their gases are driven towards their centers, triggering bursts of star formation.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 10 June 2026
Avoid triggering allergies and asthma from mold and mildew.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 June 2026
Although his client safely returned to base camp, Dawa Sherpa never arrived, triggering growing concern as climbing teams left the mountain and seasonal route infrastructure was dismantled.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 4 June 2026
The jury also found that Grossman and Erickson acted with malice, potentially triggering a punitive damages phase of trial that could result in further penalties.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 4 June 2026
Verb
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
Iran’s hold over the critical Middle Eastern passageway has discouraged activity in the area, triggering a sweeping blockage of oil tankers and a global energy emergency.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 10 June 2026
Spikes in water temperatures often correspond with a drop in oxygen, which causes stress to fish, triggering mass die-offs, according to officials with the Capitol Region Watershed District.
—Tyler Quattrin, Twin Cities, 10 June 2026
Most contracts that athletes are signing have 'outs' for schools and third-party collectives, centered around breaking NCAA rules triggering a way for schools to get rid of the problem.
—Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
As the constituent galaxies get shoved together, their gases are driven towards their centers, triggering bursts of star formation.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 10 June 2026
Avoid triggering allergies and asthma from mold and mildew.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 June 2026
Although his client safely returned to base camp, Dawa Sherpa never arrived, triggering growing concern as climbing teams left the mountain and seasonal route infrastructure was dismantled.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 4 June 2026
The jury also found that Grossman and Erickson acted with malice, potentially triggering a punitive damages phase of trial that could result in further penalties.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 4 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for triggering
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Meal timing and the gut In the new research, the authors defined chronic physiological stress by participants’ composite allostatic load score — which involves eight cardiovascular, metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers, such as blood pressure, cholesterol and body mass index.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
-
In animal studies, tirzepatide—the dual-receptor drug sold as Zepbound—appears to have target tumors in breast cancer and endometrial cancer, possibly by reversing the inflammatory effects of obesity and inhibiting tumor growth.—
Lori Youmshajekian,
Scientific American,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
