turning (on) 1 of 2

verb (1)

Definition of turning (on)next
present participle of turn (on)
as in attacking
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

turning on

2 of 2

verb (2)

present participle of turn on
1
as in thrilling
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 triggering
to cause to function would you turn on the TV?

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 turning (on)
Verb
But Salazar, who, amazingly, is also a Cuban American former news anchor, is now reckoning with her district increasingly turning on the President amid economic pressure and an immigration crackdown that is extremely unpopular among Latinos. — Daniel Castro, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2026 Virginia, your story uses dark humor to manipulate readers into sympathizing with Winifred before turning on them. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026 One possible hypothesis comes in the prologue, set on June 9, 1956, turning on Police Commissioner Folcada, which suggests the terrible impunity of power. — Roberto Prieto, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026 But there’s nothing better than a little kid opening his gift and then turning on the TV watching the NBA games. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026 In 2024, a Colorado family’s home security camera captured another dog accidentally turning on a stovetop after jumping up to investigate boxes left on the range. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026 Neighbors rescue two dogs from burning home Fire officials said Bo was the dog seen on video inadvertently turning on the toaster. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 14 July 2026 The Gold Cloaks end up turning on Team Green, allowing Rhaenyra to take the Iron Throne. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026 Letting the temperature rise slightly during the day means the system isn't turning on and off rapidly all afternoon. — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 30 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turning (on)
  1. attacking
  2. thrilling
  3. triggering
  4. assaulting
  5. exciting
  6. activating
  7. raiding
  8. electrifying
Verb
  • In July, Brown pleaded guilty to a count of affray at London’s Southwark Crown Court for attacking a music producer with a tequila bottle on the head.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The approval of Revolution Medicines’ pancreatic cancer drug Rasonque earlier this year showed that a medicine capable of attacking mutations in a group of genes called RAS could prolong survival for patients with the particularly aggressive cancer.
    — Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of attacking
Verb
  • Slumps and funks come for everyone, and a five-foot-nine right fielder for the Brewers named Sal Frelick might launch a home run in Game Two of the World Series to cap off a thrilling late-game comeback.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Joseph Paintsil scored his first two goals since August as the Galaxy hung on impressively for a point, but endangered their own playoff hopes by blowing the lead in another thrilling El Tráfico derby.
    — Greg Beacham, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of thrilling
Verb
  • Once a dominant force in the chip manufacturing landscape, Intel hit major delays with its 7- and 10-nanometer nodes, triggering the stock's worst year ever in 2024.
    — Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Both scenarios would have devastating consequences—dramatically transforming sea levels and ecosystems, and triggering compounding climate extremes such as higher temperatures and drought, increasing the likelihood of wildfires.
    — Simmone Shah, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of triggering
Verb
  • Federal prosecutors charged him with assaulting the agent, then dropped the case in February.
    — Ashley Grams, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Stokes’ wife, former Hot 97 radio personality and employee TT Torrez, has also spoken out against the incident, issuing a statement through a representative accusing Funk Flex of physically assaulting her during the altercation with her husband.
    — Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of assaulting
Verb
  • Major Wilson, 17, has been around horses most of his life and now spends much of his time helping younger riders get ready, showing them how to saddle their horses without exciting them.
    — Jhair Romero, Houston Chronicle, 26 Feb. 2026
  • For Harrington and her husband Dante, the thought of triplets was shocking but exciting all the same.
    — Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
Definition of exciting
Verb
  • Those cases often centered on devices mistakenly activating or capturing speech that was not intended as a command.
    — MacKenzie Sigalos,Annie Palmer, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Semaglutide mimics its activity by activating GLP-1 receptors in the body.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of activating
Verb
  • An increasing number of Americans are raiding their retirement funds to tackle debt.
    — Carson Brunson, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Preventing undesirable baboon behaviour, like raiding food, is easier than trying to tackle it once it’s become engrained.
    — Will Barker, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of raiding
Verb
  • The first order of business for the energy transition is electrifying applications like vehicles and heating and making sure that the electricity that powers them is made using renewables.
    — Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Hicks drove the next pitch to right-center for a 3-0 lead, electrifying the towel-waving, cowbell-ringing crowd of 32,125 fans at Tropicana Field.
    — Rob Maaddi, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of electrifying

Browse Nearby Words

turning off
turning (on)
turning on
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Cite this Entry

“Turning (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turning%20%28on%29. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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