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Synonyms

triggered

American  
[trig-erd] / ˈtrɪg ərd /

adjective

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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

  1. 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.

Arguably war, especially in its modern version, is an emergent phenomenon triggered by a host of factors, but not by some genetic impulse we can’t be rid of.

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2026

This April, India has seen some of its largest labor protests in years, triggered in part by economic pain inflicted by disruption from the war in the Middle East.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

Emerging-markets stocks are still beating their U.S. rivals this year, even after a recent bout of volatility triggered a punishing but mercifully short-lived selloff.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

An attempted burglary in 2015 also appears to have triggered anxiety and depression, leading Baird to seek help from mental health professionals.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

The arrival of the sweet potato triggered a further explosion in recent centuries.

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.