triggered

[trig-erd] / ˈtrɪg ərd /

VERB

cause to happen

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bring about cause generate produce prompt provoke set off spark start

STRONG

activate elicit

WEAK

give rise to set in motion

Antonyms

STRONGEST

destroy end halt prevent stop

WEAK

block check

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The network failure during the Maui fires triggered an internal feud at FirstNet Authority.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

Investors watch oil prices closely as a sudden spike can lead to a recession, he said, but recent trading action highlighted optimism that the energy-supply disruption triggered by the Iran conflict might be short-lived.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

Oscar-nominated Chalamet triggered a backlash from the performing arts world after he appeared to dismiss the two art forms.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

"By disabling Ant2, we triggered a complete shift in how T cells produce and use energy," explains Prof. Berger.

From Science Daily • Apr. 14, 2026

All those momentous consequences of pottery triggered a population explosion, causing Japan’s population to climb from an estimated few thousand people to a quarter of a million.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond