triggered

American

[trig-erd] / ˈtrɪg ərd /

adjective

started, set in motion, or released by a specified thing or in a specified way.

I saw an article online about obesity-triggered heart disease.
When any of the cameras detects a motion, the LCD screen displays live video from the triggered camera.
fired or exploded by pulling a trigger or releasing a triggering device.

One of the triggered missiles blew up in the second level of the building, injuring three people.
having an intense negative emotional reaction to something, usually something connected with past trauma or a bad experience.

When a stressful social encounter makes me feel triggered and panicky, I try to distance myself from the situation.
Consider using a triggered state, such as anger or anxiety, as a signal to yourself to pause and relax.

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of trigger.

Other Word Forms

untriggered

adjective

Etymology

Origin of triggered

trigger ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

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.

See Examples For:

triggered

There is no law limiting what out-of-network providers can charge, but Elevance’s suit claims misrepresentations by the company to the insurer and its members triggered excessive payments.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026

An Austrian archduke’s visit to Sarajevo in 1914 triggered the war that nearly destroyed European civilization.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2026

If that gas triggered the chemical reaction before the compound reached cancer cells, the resulting drug could damage blood cells instead of its intended target.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026