TURN-ON Synonyms: 199 Similar and Opposite Words

turn (on) 1 of 3

verb (1)

Definition of turn (on)

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

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turn-on

2 of 3

noun

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

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turn on

3 of 3

verb (2)

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

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as in to trigger

to cause to function would you turn on the TV?

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn (on)

Verb

Tzolis plays the pass and, because the Arsenal players are attacking the diagonal, there are a number of receivers available.

— Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
In perhaps the coolest reversal in the show thus far, the Lanterns are attacked with guns that produce darkness, which manifests here as smoke but prevents them from seeing or creating light constructs.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of attack

Noun

Irresistible lure In a swirling age of coast-to-coast railroad mergers, the freight tracks that run through Barrington are suddenly one of the hottest stretches of track in North America.

— John Lippert, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
Money was not the lure; Monken was better paid at Georgia than several NFL coordinators.

— Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of lure

Verb

In January, just days after the Bears’ magical 2025 dream run ended with a playoff loss, Poles was thrilled when Johnson slammed the back cover on that season and ordered everyone to start working for 2026.

— Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Angels star Mike Trout, center, and his teammates were thrilled to learn Stan Kroenke, the billionaire Rams’ owner, agreed to buy the baseball team.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of thrill

Verb

Before this dilemma can play out, Hal triggers an Indiana Jones–esque booby trap inside the compound’s stronghold, summoning Macon’s men with their advanced weaponry.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
The rain could trigger flash flooding and mudslides, particularly in mountainous areas.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of trigger

Verb

An attack on two women outside a Lavender Heights nightclub early Monday, days after a member of the city’s LGBTQ community was assaulted, stoked new safety concerns in the midtown Sacramento neighborhood.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Spence, who pleaded guilty to assault in aid of racketeering and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, could face between 24 and 27-and-a-half years behind bars.

— John Annese, New York Daily News, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of assault

Noun

Living a dozen miles from their closest neighbor (who has a grudge with Lester), even further from the closest town (a downtrodden shell of its former self), and further still from any sort of hope — or temptation.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026
Every offer is firmly rebuffed, and the promise of an easier life, with the possibility of moving to a large apartment near the sea in Alexandria, holds no temptation.

— Jay Weissberg, Variety, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of temptation

Verb

The Browns always envisioned defensive tackle Maliek Collins being activated from the physically unable to perform list in time to ramp up for the opener, and Collins is on schedule.

— Zac Jackson, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Not even in World War II had this full continuity posture been activated in this manner, and Stafford had to execute a plan the nation had trained for but never used.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of activate

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.

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turnoffs

turn (on)

turn-on

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“Turn (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn%20%28on%29. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of turn (on)

verb (1)

noun

verb (2)

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