1
as in to activate
to cause to function
a light actuated by a motion detector the alarm system actuates the door locks
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to move
to set or keep in motion
hearing depends on sound vibrations that actuate the complex mechanism of that sensory organ, the ear
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of actuate
And a story was planted that Nazi Germany actuated the Katyn Massacre in 1940.
—
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2024
The cascading dominoes can also be lightweight, flexible, and actuated by a variety of soft actuators (for example, shape memory alloys, inflatable actuators, bending actuators, etc.), whereas conveyor systems are operated by electric motors.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Mar. 2023
When in alarm mode, the slide must be actuated again to wind the alarm, changing the bell from red to white.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 10 Nov. 2023
Other teams favored a physical interface, strapping the operator into hardware (almost like a robotic exoskeleton) that could read their motions and then actuate the limbs of the avatar robot to match, while simultaneously providing force feedback.
—IEEE Spectrum, 16 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for actuate
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2024
The cascading dominoes can also be lightweight, flexible, and actuated by a variety of soft actuators (for example, shape memory alloys, inflatable actuators, bending actuators, etc.), whereas conveyor systems are operated by electric motors.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Mar. 2023
When in alarm mode, the slide must be actuated again to wind the alarm, changing the bell from red to white.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 10 Nov. 2023
Other teams favored a physical interface, strapping the operator into hardware (almost like a robotic exoskeleton) that could read their motions and then actuate the limbs of the avatar robot to match, while simultaneously providing force feedback.
—IEEE Spectrum, 16 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for actuate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actuate
Verb
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In this case, we’re well served to recognize that our social capital is enriched by diversifying across those deeper, fewer connections as well as the more numerous casual relationships that often have an outsized positive impact when activated at the right time.—
Tim Maurer,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
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Every morning, guests can watch as the Chronos opens the portals by lining them up and activating them.—
Samantha Neely,
USA Today,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Eventually any discourse about his low batting average and moving him in the lineup evaporated as Judge finished with a .322 average, 58 homers and 144 RBIS, barely missing out on matching Mickey Mantle in the Triple Crown department.—
Larry Fleisher,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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Venus moves direct in Pisces on April 12: Let tenderness lead transformation.—
Colin Bedell,
Them.,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But yeah, maybe she’s been a vegetarian this whole time and the proteins triggered something!—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
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In the current reality, where a viral tweet can trigger a market crash, this has become a powerful and useful tool.—
Kirill Sagitov,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Comedian and car aficionado Jay Leno drove state Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, in a 1976 Pontiac Trans-Am past the state Capitol on Tuesday, rallying support for legislation that would ease restrictions on classic cars.—
HECTOR AMEZCUA,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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Tate Beran drove in a pair of runs, while Ryan Kastor picked up his second save with two scoreless innings of relief.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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China’s defiant stance has sparked fears that countries will retaliate rather than negotiating with the U.S. Trump unveiled the tariffs Wednesday in a meandering White House Rose Garden news conference.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
4 Apr. 2025
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The viral clip has sparked debate among users on TikTok, with some praising destination weddings, while others were critical.—
Lee Habeeb,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Secondly, the mortgage lock-in effect is now beginning to ease, which is propelling a massive backlog of new listings to the market.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
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The village of Round Lake appears to have a new mayor-elect, with controversy over two local projects helping propel Trustee Brian Brubaker to an overwhelming 60-point victory over incumbent Russell Kraly, according to unofficial results.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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That includes rare earth minerals, which are crucial to powering a plethora of modern consumer electronics devices.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
10 Apr. 2025
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While the brand’s Geneva show was all about watches, this one is about clocks, and specifically the Atmos, which launched in 1928, and is designed to tick for at least 1,000 years due to an energy-efficient, self-winding mechanism that’s powered by small changes in air temperature and pressure.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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That didn’t impel the NFL to change the overtime rule, which at the time said a game ends if a team scores a touchdown in the extra period.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
27 Feb. 2025
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Without doing so, the city risks adding to the recent record of downgrades from the ratings agencies and impels that any new infrastructure debt minimizes additional costs over the long run.—
Dana Levenson,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Actuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actuate. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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