as in to trigger
to cause to function
his obscene comment touched off a heated debate about the need for censorship on live broadcasts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of touch off
Trump's tariffs touched off a stock market plunge in recent days.
—
Max Zahn, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2025
The firings immediately touched off an outcry among Democratic lawmakers, who said the cuts would delay enrollment for new patients and make fewer workers available to patients and help with diagnoses and treatment.
—Corey Kilgannon, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
The helicopter appears to strike the underside of the plane, touching off a massive fireball and sending both crafts into the Potomac River below.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 31 Jan. 2025
The tariffs have touched off a range of emotions along the world’s longest international border, where residents and industries are closely intertwined.
—Dee-Ann Durbin and Sally Ho, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for touch off
Max Zahn, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2025
The firings immediately touched off an outcry among Democratic lawmakers, who said the cuts would delay enrollment for new patients and make fewer workers available to patients and help with diagnoses and treatment.
—Corey Kilgannon, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
The helicopter appears to strike the underside of the plane, touching off a massive fireball and sending both crafts into the Potomac River below.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 31 Jan. 2025
The tariffs have touched off a range of emotions along the world’s longest international border, where residents and industries are closely intertwined.
—Dee-Ann Durbin and Sally Ho, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for touch off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touch off
Verb
-
As the cycle proceeds toward the inevitable breakup—triggered, perhaps, by Lesbia’s dalliances during the year that Catullus was away working for Memmius—the poems of recrimination and spite, often eye-poppingly obscene, predominate.—
Daniel Mendelsohn,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2025
-
The explosion triggered an emergency alert to cellphones across Detroit at around 6 a.m., waking many residents, according to local Fox affiliate WJBK.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
New users can sign up through our links to activate this welcome offer in time for second round action over the weekend.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
22 Mar. 2025
-
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency recently issued a joint advisory warning that two-factor authentication needed to be activated for all webmail and VPN accounts as a matter of urgency.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Schumer’s move has sparked outrage from some Democrats and progressive activists who protested at his office and called on him to resign his position.—
Will Weissert,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Another 1,671 firms reached $2.5 to $4.9 million, up from 506 in 2021. Transportation and warehousing: With the e-commerce explosion sparking demand for last-mile transportation and warehousing, solopreneurs in this space profited.—
Elaine Pofeldt,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Ultimately, the league’s decision-making on NBA expansion will be driven by a combination of market size, media presence, economic factors, and ownership interest.—
Giovanni Malloy,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Objects that are outdoors should be secured and caution should be taken if driving.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The high-profile deportations quickly set off a legal battle in the U.S.—
Annabelle Hanflig,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2025
-
However, smoke from the barbeque made its way inside the home, setting off the smoke detectors.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Personalized Recommendations Recommendation systems powered by AI help cement your customers at the center of new integrations and processes.—
Bill Geary,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Meanwhile, Westman Atelier’s skin tint evens out the complexion with a formula powered by skin-loving ingredients such as ginseng and pomegranate extract, sunflower and almond oil, and a ginger root complex.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
But the Supreme Court is increasingly skeptical of regulatory power and curbed that authority in June 2024, ruling against the Biden administration and moving the interpretation of laws back squarely toward the courts.—
Bart Jansen,
USA TODAY,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Once the pandemic came along, Stegemann moved bit by bit from Hamburg out to Bender’s in the countryside.—
Fiona Bornhöft,
Architectural Digest,
22 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Touch off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touch%20off. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share