as in to trigger
to cause to function
set off a bomb
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in ornament
something that decorates or beautifies
the architect used stone carvings as setoffs for the building's marble facing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of set off
Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2025
Mid-ride, guests will set off on foot to encounter some of the most iconic villains from Blumhouse’s popular horror franchises, including The Grabber from The Black Phone, the possessed from The Exorcist: Believer, the killers from The Purge franchise and M3GAN herself.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 8 Aug. 2025
Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
That setoff a worldwide hunt for the impact site.
—Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2019
See All Example Sentences for set off
Verb
On Bill Veeck Night, the Sox were schooled that the late former owner came up with many crazy ideas, including the one for the exploding center-field scoreboard, which sets off fireworks after White Sox home runs.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2025
Mid-ride, guests will set off on foot to encounter some of the most iconic villains from Blumhouse’s popular horror franchises, including The Grabber from The Black Phone, the possessed from The Exorcist: Believer, the killers from The Purge franchise and M3GAN herself.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 8 Aug. 2025
Noun
That setoff a fast-moving timeline that will ultimately determine if third graders who fall short on the test will move on to fourth grade or be held back.
—Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
That setoff a worldwide hunt for the impact site.
—Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2019
See All Example Sentences for set off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for set off
Verb
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Red giants and massive stars aren't generally associated with phenomena that could trigger such an outburst.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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Starvation can occur long before famine is declared Because all three thresholds must be met to trigger a famine designation, many people may be starving well before phase five is reached.—
Nurith Aizenman,
NPR,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Thus, gilt has been applied to all manner of ornaments and architectural detailing in the homes of the historical well-to-do.—
Elizabeth Fazzare,
Architectural Digest,
14 Aug. 2025
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Flashy skull ornaments were important to tyrannosaurs from the start.—
Riley Black,
Smithsonian Magazine,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Alvarez was activated on Tuesday after missing 100 games.—
Jim Bowden,
New York Times,
27 Aug. 2025
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Within days of the recent and devastating Los Angeles wildfires in January, the company activated catastrophe pay and distributed CUP Fund grants to help partners cover urgent needs.—
Simon Mainwaring,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
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When all of the ornamentation falls away, especially now that the show’s in its third season, Billeter thinks that the camera and the composition of the frame can really get at the emotional storylines.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
12 Aug. 2025
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Seventeenth-century colonists believed that hairstyling—such as its ornamentation and its length—offered important evidence of a person’s social identity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2025
Verb
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The brawl has sparked a broader conversation about crime and safety in Cincinnati.—
Cameron Knight,
The Enquirer,
14 Aug. 2025
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His previous early release from prison has sparked criticism following his arrest Aug. 8. Court records show why Langford was granted shock probation in 2024.—
Lucas Aulbach,
The Courier-Journal,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Spirit Halloween serves as a source for Halloween costumes, as well as indoor and outdoor home decorations – a pursuit more Americans have been swept up in.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
21 Aug. 2025
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Photographs taken inside the home at the time showcase the property’s original stonework, elaborate plaster cornices and ceiling decoration, according to PA.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The investment case is strong: smart grid upgrades and predictive capabilities are driving billions in infrastructure spending.—
Monica Sanders,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
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Often, orders for high-end luxury cars are placed in advance, so thieves sit and wait until the right model drives into the parking lot and follow it to a spot.—
Phoebe Wall Howard,
USA Today,
30 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The department did not respond to a request for comment on the timeline of wage garnishments.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
22 Aug. 2025
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The Department resumed collections in May and plans to begin wage garnishment by the end of summer.—
Robert Farrington,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Set off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set%20off. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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