as in triggers
to cause to function
set off a bomb
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Recent Examples of sets off
Eager to convince the family of her and March’s love, Nat sets off to become a useful ghost and offers to cleanse the factory.
—
Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
The death sets off a chain of events that forces Lilian to revisit her fractured family life and complicated bond with her ex-husband.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
How language encodes value judgments Such logic sets off alarm bells for anyone familiar with the history of eugenics, a movement that began with the idea of improving America by making its people healthier and quickly evolved to make judgments about who is and is not fit to participate in society.
—Megan Donelson, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2025
The character Kracht sets off on a sentimental road trip with his demented, aging mother, who is also addicted to both drugs and alcohol.
—The Know, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
The detail on the cuffs is subtle (a nod to the railway tracks that once served the Liverpool docklands where their new stadium has been built) but sets off the rest of the shirt really nicely.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
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
This sets off a potent immune response that’s hard to stop.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
The death sets off a chain of events that forces Lilian to revisit her fractured family life and complicated bond with her ex-husband.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
How language encodes value judgments Such logic sets off alarm bells for anyone familiar with the history of eugenics, a movement that began with the idea of improving America by making its people healthier and quickly evolved to make judgments about who is and is not fit to participate in society.
—Megan Donelson, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2025
The character Kracht sets off on a sentimental road trip with his demented, aging mother, who is also addicted to both drugs and alcohol.
—The Know, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
The detail on the cuffs is subtle (a nod to the railway tracks that once served the Liverpool docklands where their new stadium has been built) but sets off the rest of the shirt really nicely.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
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
This sets off a potent immune response that’s hard to stop.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sets off
Verb
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Asking for headcount often triggers a budget reflex.—
Sarah Chambers,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Although the shooting causes alarm and triggers police investigations, Serafina initially escapes direct consequences by going into hiding.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The system, created by Eshel Wasim and Dharsan Srinivasan, uses AI and sensors to detect when a crash is imminent and activates automatically if the plane is below 3,000 feet.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Sep. 2025
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Neuroscience confirms that a rival’s failure actually activates the ventral striatum, the brain’s pleasure center, rivaling the thrill of a team’s success.—
Richard Menger MD MPA,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And Deion sparks a reaction in people no other coach in the sport does.—
Sam Settleman,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
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Charlie Kirk death sparks shouting match on the House floor.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Over half of the generation says hard work, not luck, drives success.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
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Security leaders have long viewed data as a strategic asset that drives insights, innovation and market advantage.—
Asaf Kochan,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This process, which powers the sun and stars, offers the potential for a virtually limitless power source.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray has confirmed plans to pursue the death penalty, meaning Robinson will remain in custody without bail as the case moves toward trial.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
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Conventional engines burn fuel in a steady process, where the flame front (the area at which combustion occurs) moves smoothly through a propellant mixture to produce continuous thrust.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sets off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sets%20off. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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