trigger 1 of 2

verb

Definition of triggernext
as in to activate
to cause to function mold triggers my allergies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

trigger

2 of 2

noun

1
as in stimulus

Related Words
2
as in alarm

Related Words

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 trigger
Verb
Eating triggers saliva production, but a stone can keep the saliva from draining, causing the gland to swell. — Angela Haupt, Time, 16 Oct. 2026 Several endocrinologists who spoke to Parade said drinking coffee before breakfast can trigger a deep energy dip by noon. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
Yes, the trigger for the protests in July was education, but, as most observers noticed, the education question was the operating concern for only a minority of the protesters. — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026 Only a handful of apps are supported, and even those trigger inconsistently. — Dominic Preston, The Verge, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trigger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trigger
  1. activate
  2. stimulus
  3. alarm
  4. spark
  5. catalyst
  6. drive
  7. impetus
  8. generator
Verb
  • Users can speak to HomeView to control smart home devices, such as, for example, telling Siri to close the smart blinds or activate smart locks.
    — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $180.
    — Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of activate
Noun
  • The Fed slashed its benchmark interest rate to near zero, but the economy still needed stimulus.
    — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The leaders who are willing to pause between stimulus and response create sustainable change.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of stimulus
Noun
  • Biggs, the Republican nominee to lead the state, accuses the Democratic incumbent of sowing unnecessary alarm.
    — Hannah Knowles The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Firefighters on Saturday evening continued battling a four-alarm fire at a Staten Island warehouse, the FDNY said.
    — Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of alarm
Verb
  • Hackers raised the temperature of refrigerators and freezers, sparking fires and causing food to spoil.
    — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The Internet was also expected to spark a productivity boom and did so, briefly, in the late 1990s.
    — RUCHIR SHARMA, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of spark
Noun
  • The actual catalyst that led to Spears stepping away from the music industry had nothing to do with Timberlake, however.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The firm cited several clinical readouts in 2027 as catalysts for Biogen.
    — Darla Mercado, CFP®,Paulina Likos, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of catalyst
Verb
  • These viruses infect diverse deep-sea prokaryotes that drive vital cycles of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and metals.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The benefits of space exploration extend well beyond the Moon, potentially driving advances in energy storage, electric vehicles and other technologies on Earth.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of drive
Noun
  • The impetus for Whalefall came from a viral video in which a kayaker ended up in the mouth of a whale.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
  • So, if your travels find you in Milan before 2027 kicks off, consider this your impetus to go ahead and book that room.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of impetus
Noun
  • Westlake coach Rick Clausen said his team’s game at Ventura High remains on because the school has generators if power is cut off.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Data centers and trading floors run backup generators and failover sites because their businesses can’t stop when the power does.
    — Ciaran Cosgrave, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of generator

Browse Nearby Words

trig
trigger
triggered
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trigger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trigger. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on trigger

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about trigger

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of fervid

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All