actuated by terror

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "actuated by terror" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions or behaviors that are driven or motivated by fear. Example: "The decisions made during the crisis were actuated by terror, leading to hasty and irrational choices."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

This nanopositioner is actuated by piezoelectric actuators.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

Generation of swirl flow was attained by a compact parallel link actuated by three piezoelectric actuators.

ROBOMECH Journal

Villanueva, A., Smith, C. & Priya, S. A biomimetic robotic jellyfish (Robojelly) actuated by shape memory alloy composite actuators.

Nature

The effect is like materialized music, actuated by your movement.

The New Yorker

"The oft-repeated charge that Kissinger was actuated by self-interest," Ferguson writes, "seems unfair".

The Guardian - Books

The machines are banked in tiers on a circular platform & are actuated by perforated tape.

The New Yorker

And Cameron himself – you never know – might just be actuated by his Christian convictions, and not just political calculation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Smith blamed local party leaders "who were unquestionably actuated by political motives".

The New York Times

He was arrested twice but never charged and contended both arrests were "actuated by malice".

The Guardian

The quantity of fuel in the storage chamber is controlled by a valve actuated by a float.

Britannica

The jaws of this device are closed by heavy arms, which are actuated by a strong spring and lead weight.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "actuated by terror", ensure the context clearly establishes terror as the primary and overwhelming motivator behind the action or decision. Avoid using it in contexts where other factors contribute significantly.

Common error

Avoid using "actuated by terror" if the situation involves fear mixed with other motivations like personal gain or political strategy. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact and create a melodramatic tone if not carefully justified by the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "actuated by terror" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe something that is moved to action or caused to happen because of intense fear. Ludwig provides limited examples, but the general usage is to describe motivations.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "actuated by terror" is a grammatically sound way to express that actions or decisions are driven by overwhelming fear. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, the scarcity of real-world examples suggests it's not a frequently used phrase. Alternatives like "driven by fear" or "motivated by fear" may be more common. When using "actuated by terror", ensure the context genuinely warrants the intensity the phrase implies, avoiding overuse in situations where other factors also play a significant role.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

driven by fear

Replaces "actuated" with "driven", a more common synonym, maintaining the focus on fear as the motivating factor.

motivated by fear

Substitutes "actuated" with "motivated", another common synonym, emphasizing fear as the underlying motive.

propelled by fear

Uses "propelled" instead of "actuated", suggesting a forceful push caused by terror.

prompted by terror

Substitutes "actuated" with "prompted", suggesting terror initiates or triggers action.

inspired by terror

Replaces "actuated" with "inspired", implying that terror sparks the action.

fueled by terror

Uses "fueled" instead of "actuated", indicating that terror provides the energy for action.

caused by terror

Focuses on terror as the direct cause of an action, rather than the motivator.

born of terror

Implies that the action or feeling originates from terror.

with terror as the driving force

Emphasizes terror as the primary impetus behind an action.

under the influence of terror

Suggests a state of being controlled or affected by terror.

FAQs

How can I use "actuated by terror" in a sentence?

You can use "actuated by terror" to describe actions or decisions that are primarily driven by intense fear. For example, "The government's response was "actuated by terror", leading to strict new regulations."

What are some alternatives to "actuated by terror"?

Some alternatives include "driven by fear", "motivated by fear", or "propelled by fear", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "motivated by terror" instead of "actuated by terror"?

Yes, "motivated by terror" is a perfectly acceptable and often more common alternative. "Actuated" can sound more formal or technical, while "motivated" is generally more accessible.

In what contexts is "actuated by terror" most appropriate?

"Actuated by terror" is most appropriate in contexts where extreme fear is the overriding factor influencing behavior, such as describing reactions to a terrorist attack or the actions of characters in a horror story.