as in to trigger
to cause to function
crank up the CD player so we can dance
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crank (up)
Verb
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In 1984, following Operation Blue Star, the assassination of India's prime minister by her Sikh bodyguard triggered horrific mob violence that killed thousands of Sikhs across the country, pushing many more to flee.—
Akash Pamarthy,
NPR,
6 June 2026 -
Stopping diabetes medications can trigger hyperglycemic crises like diabetic ketoacidosis which can require ER visits and sometimes hospitalization.—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
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Even 15 minutes of disconnection allows the brain’s default mode network to activate, when memory consolidation and creative connections actually occur.—
William Jones
June 8,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 June 2026
Verb
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The violent arrest immediately sparked community protests, and Hyder was fired the next day.—
Jericka Duncan,
CBS News,
2 June 2026
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The case sparked outrage both in the local community and nationwide, with conversations surrounding race and self-defense rights taking center stage.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Ties have cooled in recent years between the two sides – while Pyongyang drove closer to Moscow.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
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Advocates have long criticized the conditions at the Aurora facility, and those complaints — alongside concerns that more facilities could open in the state — helped drive HB 1276’s contents.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Every acre-foot of water requires enough electricity to power a typical home for several months, so higher electricity costs in California raise the price substantially even before accounting for costs related to land, permitting, and labor.—
Sara Sutherland,
Oc Register,
8 June 2026
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Fortunately, so many of the minerals needed to power our economy, strengthen our national security and rebuild our industrial capacity are right beneath our feet.—
Rich Nolan,
Boston Herald,
1 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Crank (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crank%20%28up%29. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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