as in to attack
to take sudden, violent action against
it is dangerous to keep tigers as house pets, as they often turn on their masters without warning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in lure
something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain
knew the offer of free pizza would be a major turn-on to the pair of teenagers she had just asked to help her move
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to thrill
to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings
unsurprisingly, the fanboys were turned on by the movie's amazing special effects and slam-bang plot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to trigger
to cause to function
would you turn on the TV?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn (on)
Verb
-
He is accused of attacking a 27-year-old man with a beer mug inside the Hula Bar on Saturday night.
-
Liv Morgan controversially interrupted Iyo Sky's coronation, attacking her and forcing a tap-out.
Noun
-
Though the story itself is comically predictable, Chloe Bailey’s earnest portrayal and the lure of the iconic Lynn Whitfield make the movie fun to watch even as the narrative completely unravels at the seams.
-
Early also has a larger target in view, the fickleness of internet celebrity, a lure that often comes with self-harm.
Verb
-
The speakers included a future Western Hills High School student, eighth-grader Jaxson Whittaker, who said he was thrilled when Alzubi was announced as principal.
-
Both have plenty of family members in tow, thrilled to tag along for the ride these first few days.
Verb
-
Attorney Al Watkins, who represented the McCloskeys during the early stages of the controversy, said one of the biggest misconceptions about the case is what triggered the confrontation in the first place.
-
The satellite's primary objective, though, is to observe gamma-ray bursts – events triggered by the catastrophic deaths of massive stars and considered to be the most powerful types of explosions in the universe.
Verb
-
The unrest began in mid-March but has intensified, leaving at least three dead as vigilantes armed with spears, clubs, and whips assaulted migrants and destroyed their homes.
-
Witnesses told police that the victim had called and reported that O’Neal had assaulted her, the witnesses told police.
Noun
-
The temptation is to read those two companies as competing bets on the same market.
-
There is a temptation to read the Congo and the United States as separate stories, one about a fragile state far away and one about our own polarized politics.
Verb
-
Improvements in the Midway to include the buildup of housing and businesses connected to Allianz Field has Wilson excited about the future.
-
Players did not seem ready or excited about the upcoming World Cup, and much work remained to identify new talent.
Verb
-
Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights.
-
Scent activates pathways that trigger emotional and memory responses.
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.
Cite this Entry
“Turn (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn%20%28on%29. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
