1
a
: released, initiated, or set off by a trigger
a triggered alert
A triggered fire alarm around 5 a.m. Sunday led Denver firefighters and Colorado troopers to the Capitol where they discovered at least three bronze busts of former lawmakers had been vandalized.—Rob Low
b
: equipped with a trigger
a triggered mechanism
2
a
: occurring in response to a stimulus typically perceived as negative or harmful
Triggered reactions can be intense and unpleasant, and may even overtake our consciousness, as with a flashback experienced by a war veteran.—Kate Manne
As the body moves quickly, the heart rate and breath speed up, which also occurs during a triggered "fight or flight" reaction.—Lindsey Pearson
b
: caused to feel an intense and usually negative emotional reaction : affected by an emotional trigger
Triggered people often feel guilt or anger at themselves afterwards, so don't contribute to that cycle of thought.—JR Thorpe
triggered
2 of 2past tense and past participle of trigger entry 2
Cite this Entry
“Triggered.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/triggered. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.
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