turn (on) 1 of 3

verb (1)

Definition of turn (on)next
as in to attack
to take sudden, violent action against it is dangerous to keep tigers as house pets, as they often turn on their masters without warning

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

turn-on

2 of 3

noun

as in lure
something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain knew the offer of free pizza would be a major turn-on to the pair of teenagers she had just asked to help her move

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

turn on

3 of 3

verb (2)

1
as in to thrill
to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings unsurprisingly, the fanboys were turned on by the movie's amazing special effects and slam-bang plot

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to trigger
to cause to function would you turn on the TV?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn (on)
  1. attack
  2. lure
  3. thrill
  4. trigger
  5. assault
  6. temptation
  7. excite
  8. activate
Verb
  • The recent success of a late-stage mRNA cancer vaccine, showing the drug stopped the return of melanoma, has boosted hopes that the approach can be successfully harnessed to attack other cancers.
    — Allison DeAngelis, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
  • In Ohio, Husted has been repeatedly attacked for his role in attracting data centers to Ohio as lieutenant governor.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • Staring at them has a mesmeric lure, like falling into the uncanny valley.
    — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Everybody knows already, one hopes, not to trust the lure of quick cash, especially as it is depicted on TV.
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of lure
Verb
  • There’s also the Chill and Thrill Islands, aptly named for their focuses on chilling and thrilling passengers, respectively.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Her goal is not to say that this is the best option for everyone, but just to make people who might not be thrilled about implants for whatever reason know that an AFC after a double mastectomy is an option.
    — Kara McGrath, Allure, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of thrill
Verb
  • The Knicks won their first NBA championship since 1973 in June but owner James Dolan said shortly afterward the team would avoid spending enough to trigger the penalties that come when a team reaches the second apron of the salary cap.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • These primitive instincts are highly attuned to potential danger and are often triggered before our conscious mind registers that something isn’t right.
    — Georgia Casey, Allure, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of trigger
Verb
  • According to the Public Defender's Office, officers falsely claimed that Gibson had assaulted them by biting, punching, and wrapping a radio cord around an officer's neck, claims later refuted by video evidence.
    — Senior Editor, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Large private surveys of students at multiple colleges consistently estimate that 1 in 5 college women are assaulted while attending university.
    — Kaitlyn M. Sims, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of assault
Noun
  • Don’t cut the apprenticeship For employers, better output creates a temptation to hire fewer juniors.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
  • As the frontman of the Killers, Flowers, 45, has spent more than two decades singing about the struggles and the temptations at the heart of the American dream.
    — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of temptation
Verb
  • Other nuclei have energy gaps that are too large for lasers to excite.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Interesting in a good way that actually excited me for where Taylor could go next sonically and lyrically?
    — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of excite
Verb
  • Choose from heat mode or cool mode depending on the season, and then activate night mode for the quietest settings and a dimmer display.
    — Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In order to promote its use, new ShipStation customers who choose to activate Ship with Walmart will be given a 20 percent discount on their annual subscription.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of activate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

turnoffs
turn (on)
turn-on
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Cite this Entry

“Turn (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn%20%28on%29. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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