Definitions

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 announcement immediately triggered a global stock market panic, resulting in the largest decline since 2020, when the stock market crashed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

Still, the S&P 500 slumped 4.6% in the first quarter to mark its worst quarterly performance since 2022 as fears over high oil prices triggered by the Iran conflict hammered the market in March.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

The project - which started four years ago - had triggered protests from locals and environmentalists, who argued that the construction work was causing irreparable damage to the Unesco World Heritage Site.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

The dollar’s role as a safe haven triggered the rally after the Iran conflict broke out on Feb. 28.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 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