triggering
Causing to start
Triggering describes something that sets off or activates a response.
A remark can be triggering if it provokes an emotional reaction, particularly for someone with trauma or anxiety: The scene was triggering for abuse survivors.
The term emerged from psychology but spread to broader use—sometimes seriously, sometimes dismissively mocking sensitivity: Everything is triggering to that generation.
Causing to start
- sparkingEmitting small flames
- activatingCausing to function
- launchingSetting something in motion
- engagingPleasantly attractive, compelling attention
igniting · enabling · commencing · starting · setting off · switching on · arming · firing
Causing emotional turmoil
- distressingCausing anguish or worry
- retraumatizingTriggering past wounds again
- disturbingCausing mental unease
- activatingCausing to function
flashback · trauma · PTSD · anxiety · panic · response · warning · content warning
Tending to provoke outrage
- incendiaryCausing or designed for burning
- controversialCausing public dispute
- offensiveCausing displeasure or attack-oriented
- shockingCausing intense surprise
outrageous · scandalous · divisive · contentious · polarizing · inciting · agitating · antagonizing
Circuit-breaking toggle device
- leverPivoting bar for lifting
- buttonDisc through a hole
- mechanismMeans by which something operates
- releaseTo let go
spring · hammer · pin · firearm · trap · sensor · detector · threshold
Causing mild shock
- joltingShaking with sudden force
- alarmingProvoking fear or anxiety
- shockingCausing intense surprise
- unsettlingCausing unease or discomfort
jarring · disconcerting · unnerving · disturbing · rattling · spooking · frightening · startling
initiating
Causing to start
- sparkingEmitting small flames
- activatingCausing to function
- launchingSetting something in motion
engaging · igniting · enabling · commencing · starting · setting off · switching on · arming · firing · detonating
upsetting
Causing emotional turmoil
- distressingCausing anguish or worry
- retraumatizingTriggering past wounds again
- disturbingCausing mental unease
activating · flashback · trauma · PTSD · anxiety · panic · response · warning · content warning · sensitivity
inflammatory
Tending to provoke outrage
- incendiaryCausing or designed for burning
- controversialCausing public dispute
- offensiveCausing displeasure or attack-oriented
shocking · outrageous · scandalous · divisive · contentious · polarizing · inciting · agitating · antagonizing · goading
switch
Circuit-breaking toggle device
release · spring · hammer · pin · firearm · trap · sensor · detector · threshold · circuit
surprising
Causing mild shock
unsettling · jarring · disconcerting · unnerving · disturbing · rattling · spooking · frightening · startling · disquieting
- recallingremembering, reminiscing, flashback, memorizing, recognition
- fiddlingfiddling, fiddle, fiddler, fiddle tune, fiddle tunes
- particle physicsquark, quarks, lepton, leptons, boson
- incitementinciting, instigating, provoking, incitement, instigation
- growthgrowth, grow, growing, growth rate, increase
- beginningsbegin, beginning, start, first, opening
triggeringstopping
Ceasing to continue
blocking · preventing · halting · inhibiting · checking
triggeringsoothing
Reducing distress or discomfort
calming · comforting · reassuring · healing · grounding
- triggering event
- triggering mechanismDevice that initiates function
trigger, triggers, triggered, untriggered, retrigger, triggerable