it was triggering

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was triggering" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or event that caused a strong emotional reaction, often related to past trauma or distressing experiences. Example: "When I heard that song again, it was triggering and brought back memories I wasn't ready to face."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But I realized it was triggering an actual fear of becoming that poor.

The Guardian - Film

Bank of Ireland has prompted fury after revealing it was triggering a "special condition" clause contained in loan agreements that, it said, allowed it to increase the interest rate "differential" on some of its UK base rate tracker mortgages.

The Guardian - Money

In February 2013, Bank of Ireland prompted fury after revealing it was triggering a "special condition" clause in loan agreements that allowed it to increase the "interest rate differential" on some of its UK base rate tracker mortgages.

The Guardian - Money

It was triggering me.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"I'd say it was triggered by it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It was triggered by an energy-saving motion detector.

The New York Times

Initial indications suggest it was triggered by drainage.

The Guardian

It was triggered after Democrats collected 1m signatures.

The Guardian

Perhaps it was triggered by a nuclear accident.

The Guardian - Books

It was triggered by a confluence of flaky rumours.

The Economist

Palestinian villagers claim it was triggered by settlers stoning Palestinian cars.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was triggering", ensure the context clearly indicates what 'it' refers to and what kind of reaction it caused. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "it was triggering" vaguely. Always specify what "it" refers to and the nature of the trigger. For example, instead of "The movie was triggering", specify "The movie was triggering due to its graphic depictions of violence".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was triggering" functions as a descriptive statement indicating that something caused a notable emotional or psychological response. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through various examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was triggering" is used to describe something that elicited a strong emotional or psychological reaction. While grammatically correct and usable, its frequency is relatively low. Ludwig AI confirms that it most often appears in news and scientific contexts. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what 'it' refers to and the nature of the reaction. Alternatives like "it was activating" or "it was provoking" may be suitable depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was activating

Replaces 'triggering' with 'activating', suggesting a cause-and-effect relationship but with a less intense emotional connotation.

it was provoking

Substitutes 'triggering' with 'provoking', indicating a deliberate incitement or elicitation of a response.

it was setting off

Uses a phrasal verb to replace 'triggering', implying the initiation of a process or reaction.

it was inciting

Replaces 'triggering' with 'inciting', emphasizing the action of urging or stirring up a particular feeling or behavior.

it was sparking

Substitutes 'triggering' with 'sparking', suggesting the initiation of something, often a debate or conflict.

it was eliciting

Replaces 'triggering' with 'eliciting', implying the drawing forth of a response or reaction.

it was prompting

Substitutes 'triggering' with 'prompting', indicating an action that encourages or causes something to happen.

it was initiating

Replaces 'triggering' with 'initiating', focusing on the beginning or commencement of an action or process.

it was instigating

Substitutes 'triggering' with 'instigating', implying active encouragement or initiation of an event or action, often negative.

it was precipitating

Replaces 'triggering' with 'precipitating', suggesting an event caused something to happen suddenly or unexpectedly.

FAQs

How can I use "it was triggering" in a sentence?

Use "it was triggering" to describe something that caused a strong emotional or psychological reaction. For example, "The news report about the accident /s/it+was+triggering was triggering for many survivors".

What's a less intense alternative to "it was triggering"?

If you want to describe a milder effect, consider using phrases like "it was upsetting", "it was concerning", or "it was disturbing".

Is "it was triggering" considered formal or informal language?

"It was triggering" is generally considered neutral to informal. In more formal contexts, using more specific and clinical language might be preferable.

What's the difference between "it was triggered by" and "it was triggering"?

"It was triggered by" indicates that something external caused the event, while "it was triggering" describes the inherent quality of something to provoke a reaction. For example, "The alarm /s/it+was+triggered+by was triggered by the motion sensor", versus "The loud noise /s/it+was+triggering was triggering to my anxiety".