ACTUATES Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

actuates

verb

present tense third-person singular of actuate

as in activates

to cause to function a light actuated by a motion detector the alarm system actuates the door locks

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as in drives

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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Recent Examples of Synonyms for actuates

Verb

The agency rejected the recommendation, saying that using cameras that automatically activate when an officer pulls their weapon or activates a car siren could risk privacy concerns.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
And a few are very highly specific, such as the protease that activates insulin, which only cuts near a very specific series of amino acids.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of activates

Verb

This approach also drives innovation by ensuring new technologies address real challenges cotton growers are facing.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
And more importantly, what is this anxiety so many men feel about their emotions that drives them to torturously invent bodies that bear little resemblance to the human form?

— Jay Weissberg, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of drives

Verb

Now, his firing triggers a buyout package of around $12 million, according to Yahoo's Ross Dellenger.

— Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Endurance testing Heating the material triggers a chemical reaction that removes loose chlorine ions and forms strong bonds between indium, oxygen, and phosphorus.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of triggers

Verb

As part of its process, the powered gimbal moves the image around in the general direction the projector's already facing, stopping the movement several times in the process before continuing, and adjusting the image size several times as well.

— M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
Flight testing moves forward L3Harris has reached the second phase of the Army’s Xtended Range Counter-sUAS Missile program.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of moves

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actuated

actuates

actuating

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“Actuates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actuates. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of actuates

verb

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