as in activates
to cause to function
mold triggers my allergies
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Recent Examples of triggers
Karl Hille, Baltimore Sun, 23 Feb. 2026
If opposition to immigration enforcement triggers subpoenas by the government to businesses to provide the identity of dissenters, that is a problem for the Constitution.
—Stephanie A, The Conversation, 23 Feb. 2026
When exposed to sunlight, the material triggers a sequence of chemical reactions that transform common plastic polymers into acetic acid with high selectivity.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026
His arrest triggers a riot by his supporters, who break into the court, smashing windows and equipment.
—ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
After your baby is born progesterone (which inhibits breastmilk production) drops and prolactin, which controls milk volume, and oxytocin, which triggers the let-down reflex increases, explains Nadine Rosenblum, the perinatal lactation program coordinator at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.
—Hannah Silverman, Parents, 16 Feb. 2026
The director frames the film as an immersion into the mind of one such figure — shaped by social discontent, inequality and state repression — who triggers revolt to avenge the death of his dog.
—Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
The burst of dopamine that triggers motivation simply subsides.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
When executed properly, the process triggers endless reactions to make energy for electricity.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
New findings from Maryland researchers show that seeing someone get relief from pain on screen triggers a similar empathy reaction in the viewer.
—Karl Hille, Baltimore Sun, 23 Feb. 2026
If opposition to immigration enforcement triggers subpoenas by the government to businesses to provide the identity of dissenters, that is a problem for the Constitution.
—Stephanie A, The Conversation, 23 Feb. 2026
When exposed to sunlight, the material triggers a sequence of chemical reactions that transform common plastic polymers into acetic acid with high selectivity.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026
His arrest triggers a riot by his supporters, who break into the court, smashing windows and equipment.
—ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
After your baby is born progesterone (which inhibits breastmilk production) drops and prolactin, which controls milk volume, and oxytocin, which triggers the let-down reflex increases, explains Nadine Rosenblum, the perinatal lactation program coordinator at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.
—Hannah Silverman, Parents, 16 Feb. 2026
The director frames the film as an immersion into the mind of one such figure — shaped by social discontent, inequality and state repression — who triggers revolt to avenge the death of his dog.
—Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
The burst of dopamine that triggers motivation simply subsides.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
When executed properly, the process triggers endless reactions to make energy for electricity.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
Binary triggers allow a semiautomatic weapon to fire both when the trigger is pulled and released, increasing its rate of fire.
—Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for triggers
Verb
-
Scientists have discovered that a soft, loving caress activates specific nerve fibers that light up parts of the brain associated with emotion, not just sensation.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Crushing or chopping garlic activates allicin, its key compound, and fresh ginger provides gingerol.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The reason could be that modern environments contain more interesting stimuli or that modern gasoline no longer contains lead.—
Drew Goins,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Smart polymers already exist and can respond to such stimuli, altering their color or shape and then returning to their original state.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
From his apartment balcony, Schwartz could hear blaring alarms and the boom of explosions.—
Mary Beth Sheridan,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Vitello pointed out that the alarms were especially distracting to Ray and Chapman because their families were in the stands.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Set against the charming backdrop of North Carolina, Bride Wars, the TV series, follows abig-city wedding planner (Emma Roberts) whose arrival in a small town sparks an epic showdown with a beloved local planner.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The tragic admission, coming more than a week after Guthrie’s last appeal to her mother’s captors, sparks questions as to why investigators and the family chose to wait weeks to put forward such a large and enticing reward.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
It's used in automotive catalysts, industrial manufacturing and some clean-energy applications, and, like silver, its supply is critically constrained, so there tends to be more demand than supply, pushing up the price.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Loop Capital sees key headwinds easing as catalysts materialize for Qualcomm .—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
There’s a two-story vaulted window with a view of the hillside, a keyboard, a sofa, crates for when Fleming drives up with his three rescue dogs (Daysy, Erik, and Luchie, two pit mixes and a miniature poodle), and a vintage Mork & Mindy poster on the wall.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
-
That silver spot price is what drives the baseline value of silver coins.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Europe has sent emergency generators and relocated an entire thermal power plant from Lithuania to Ukraine.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Nvidia carved out an early lead in tailoring its chipsets known as graphics processing units, or GPUs, from use in powering video games to helping train powerful AI systems, like the technology behind ChatGPT and image generators.—
Michelle Chapman,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Russian state has introduced incentives for women who have three or more children, including lump-sum payments, tax breaks and state benefits.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
-
At the very least, this populist President would have demanded compensation for displaced workers in the form of proper retraining programs, relocation grants, and expanded incentives for businesses to invest in depressed regions.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Triggers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/triggers. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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