trigger word
Sensitive topic phrase
A trigger word is a word or phrase that provokes a strong emotional response, often distress or anxiety, particularly in someone who has experienced trauma.
In therapeutic contexts, trigger words can activate painful memories or reactions: Violence is a trigger word for abuse survivors.
The term has expanded to describe any language that prompts intense reactions in debates or online discourse, sometimes used dismissively to mock perceived oversensitivity.
- cueTrigger for action
- promptIncite to action
- stimulusWhat prompts a reaction
- reactionResponse to stimulus
- emotional responseFeeling prompted by stimulus
emotional · fight or flight · trauma · memory · flashback · warning · sensitive · sore spot · response · activate · spark · jolt · content warning · panic · panic attack · anxiety · PTSD · mental health
- word phrasesbuzzword, catchword, byword, watchword, codeword
- Voice CommandsAlexa, voice activation, voice prompt, voice search, app launch
- Hypnosishypnotist, hypnotherapist, trance state, trance states, autohypnosis
- catchphrasescatchphrase, why so serious, cowabunga, good grief, yabba dabba doo
- code wordspassword, passphrase, pin code, code name, cipher
- secret codescipher, secret code, secret codes, password, passphrase
trigger wordplain language
Easily understood communication
diplomatic language · technical term · plain speech · euphemism
trigger, word, triggers, triggered, triggering, words, wording, worded, wordy