as in triggers
to cause to function
set off a bomb
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Recent Examples of sets off
In her latest Netflix action effort, Theron plays a woman who sets off on a trip to Australia to soothe her grief but unwittingly crosses paths with Egerton’s unnerving hunter, who forces her into a game of cat and mouse.
—
Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026
The first fight between on-the-rocks elder millennials Josh (Oscar Isaac) and Lindsay (Carey Mulligan), witnessed by the young betrotheds Austin (Charles Melton) and Ashley (Cailee Spaeny), creates the toxic connection between the couples and sets off everything else that happens on the show.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026
The show is a propulsive hurricane of misery and cringe, from the violent incident that sets off this series of unfortunate events to the twists and horrors that unfold.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
Attractive green foliage sets off other plants in summer, and in fall, the plant displays a lovely yellow-gold color.
—Lynn McAlpine, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026
In Terminator, an all-powerful, faultless AI becomes sentient, decides that humans are the enemy, and sets off a nuclear apocalypse.
—Bipul Sinha, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
Convinced that these images faithfully represent America, a group of villagers sets off for the New World.
—Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 8 Nov. 2025
The comedy horror film revolves around Brian (Tyler Perry) forbidding his daughter Tiffany (Diamond White) from attending a frat party, which sets off a string of Halloween pranks.
—Ariana Quihuiz, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
In the Disney+ series of the same name, rebellious princess Kit (Bottoms’ Ruby Cruz) sets off on a dangerous quest to rescue her twin brother from dastardly forces of evil.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 15 Oct. 2025
Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026
The first fight between on-the-rocks elder millennials Josh (Oscar Isaac) and Lindsay (Carey Mulligan), witnessed by the young betrotheds Austin (Charles Melton) and Ashley (Cailee Spaeny), creates the toxic connection between the couples and sets off everything else that happens on the show.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026
The show is a propulsive hurricane of misery and cringe, from the violent incident that sets off this series of unfortunate events to the twists and horrors that unfold.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
Attractive green foliage sets off other plants in summer, and in fall, the plant displays a lovely yellow-gold color.
—Lynn McAlpine, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026
In Terminator, an all-powerful, faultless AI becomes sentient, decides that humans are the enemy, and sets off a nuclear apocalypse.
—Bipul Sinha, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
Convinced that these images faithfully represent America, a group of villagers sets off for the New World.
—Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 8 Nov. 2025
The comedy horror film revolves around Brian (Tyler Perry) forbidding his daughter Tiffany (Diamond White) from attending a frat party, which sets off a string of Halloween pranks.
—Ariana Quihuiz, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
In the Disney+ series of the same name, rebellious princess Kit (Bottoms’ Ruby Cruz) sets off on a dangerous quest to rescue her twin brother from dastardly forces of evil.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 15 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sets off
Verb
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This plateau triggers all the synapses with the eligibility trace to strengthen.—
Yasemin Saplakoglu,
Quanta Magazine,
24 Apr. 2026
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Coal exporters like Indonesia are also ramping up their stockpiles as the Middle East conflict triggers a price surge.—
Julius Cesar Trajano,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Once repair is complete, growth hormone activates a brainstem region called the locus coeruleus, which gently nudges you toward waking.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
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Dreaming big is par for the course when Mercury activates Jupiter.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Highway 82 Fire in Brantley County began when a foil-like party balloon hit a power line and sparks ignited surrounding vegetation, authorities say.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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Rescue sparks debate in country Officials in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania said their strategy had focused on minimizing stress for the animal, rejecting public calls for the whale to be euthanized to end its suffering.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Imagining an eternity of this, Creasy disables his car’s braking system and drives into a concrete pylon.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Apr. 2026
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Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket during game five of the first round playoffs against the Orlando Magic last night.—
Sahil Kapur,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Researchers are adapting the magnetron—the same component that powers microwave ovens—to provide the 10 megawatts of power required for ADS.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Feb. 2026
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How Wisconsin's solar battery park powers 130,000 homes The Paris Solar farm began producing power in December 2024 and generates 200 megawatts of renewable electricity during the day.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Carr is a natural athlete who moves like a great shortstop, and his ability to find cleaner throwing air out of the pocket — and his ability to make throws from multiple arm slots — is special.—
Nick Baumgardner,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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As the Moon moves through your 9th House of Learning, conversations shape direction.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sets off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sets%20off. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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