TURNS ON Synonyms: 164 Similar and Opposite Words

turns (on) 1 of 2

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of turn (on)

as in attacks

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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turns on

2 of 2

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of turn on

as in thrills

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 triggers

to cause to function would you turn on the TV?

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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 turns (on)

Verb

Fashion turns on inflection points, and this was one of the most important. — Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026 The drama turns on a young woman, victim of spike drinking at a lavish New Year’s Eve party in a remote manor. — Annika Pham, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026 Continue reading … FRIENDLY FIRE — GOP base turns on Republican Gov Sarah Huckabee-Sanders' reelection ad. — FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026 At this stage of the litigation, OpenAI and Microsoft bear the burden of proving that their conduct constitutes fair use, which turns on a four-factor balancing test. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026 The 24-year-old played more than ever last season but still managed a modest 24 goals and 49 points despite getting regular turns on the power play and penalty kill. — Max Bultman, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 Three turns on each side is sufficient to thoroughly lube the entire chain. — New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026 All data is end-to-end encrypted, and the system only turns on after fingerprint login. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026 When those decisions go wrong, the cost lands on defendants, victims and anyone whose future turns on what an examiner finds. — Lars Daniel, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for turns (on)

Verb

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder that attacks healthy cells in the central nervous system.

— Mark Morales, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
Why Autoimmune Diseases Are Easy to Miss Autoimmune diseases happen when the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues.

— Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of attacks

Verb

Railing against a new crop of progressive candidates has emerged as a more animating focus for a president who thrills to a fight.

— Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Her strict economy, honed by her early years of writing and endlessly revising (under the exacting eye of Allene Talmey) tight captions for Vogue, thrills the editor in me.

— Zinzi Clemmons, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026

Definition of thrills

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
Before enrollment, people volunteering for the study would be screened for early signs of cancer because TB-4 triggers vessel growth and cell migration, which might exacerbate malignant growths.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of triggers

Verb

Anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

— Christina Fan, CBS News, 7 June 2026
Any passenger who assaults, threatens, intimidates or interferes with airline crew members can lead to penalties of up to $43,658 per violation, according to the FAA.

— Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 3 May 2026

Definition of assaults

Verb

The agency rejected the recommendation, saying that using cameras that automatically activate when an officer pulls their weapon or activates a car siren could risk privacy concerns.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
And a few are very highly specific, such as the protease that activates insulin, which only cuts near a very specific series of amino acids.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of activates

Verb

In the character's final scene, as the DEA raids her rural compound, Laurie ties a rope around her neck and jumps from the roof of her home.

— Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
In the meantime, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) finally raids Laurie's property, thanks to the intel Rue had been giving them.

— Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 1 June 2026

Definition of raids

Verb

Standing amid the ruins of the villa and grotto, you might be overwhelmed by the ancient mythology that electrifies the air here.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
What starts as one state utility trying to see its own network more clearly could end up as part of the blueprint for how the developing world electrifies its future.

— Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026

Definition of electrifies

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turns off

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

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Synonyms of turns (on)

verb (1)

verb (2)

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