as in to trigger
to cause to function
his obscene comment touched off a heated debate about the need for censorship on live broadcasts
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Recent Examples of touch off
The move touched off widespread anger among Georgians, who polls show are firmly pro-EU, and prompted a police crackdown, with over 400 people, including senior opposition leaders, detained.
—
Reuters, NBC News, 29 Dec. 2024
The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer, a right-wing influencer with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump's selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 28 Dec. 2024
The rules have touched off an intense fight between tech companies and the government, as well as among administration officials.
—Ana Swanson, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
The mayor’s own involuntary commitment initiative, under which NYPD officers and outreach teams took in individuals who appeared to pose a threat, has touched off controversy since its start in 2022.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for touch off
Reuters, NBC News, 29 Dec. 2024
The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer, a right-wing influencer with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump's selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 28 Dec. 2024
The rules have touched off an intense fight between tech companies and the government, as well as among administration officials.
—Ana Swanson, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
The mayor’s own involuntary commitment initiative, under which NYPD officers and outreach teams took in individuals who appeared to pose a threat, has touched off controversy since its start in 2022.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for touch off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touch off
Verb
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Freed were three Israeli men seized from the Nova music festival and another taken while visiting family in southern Israel during the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the 16-month war in Gaza.—
WAFAA SHURAFA,
arkansasonline.com,
23 Feb. 2025
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According to a 1958 law, companies looking to introduce a new food additive into the food supply are supposed to file a petition with the FDA, triggering a lengthy process of scientific investigation and public comment.—
Juhohn Lee,
CNBC,
23 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The referral agent is also voice activated and calls patients to connect them with the right specialists.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
17 Feb. 2025
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Charged visions seek to be explored when the moon activates Mars retrograde.—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
16 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The package has sparked a bidding war with Warner Bros, Amazon, Apple and Netflix among those understood to be in the mix for the hot project which is garnering WW offers around the $45M mark.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
15 Feb. 2025
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The unpredictability and wide-reaching impact of COVID-19 sparked similar anxiety among some students and faculty directly impacted by them, said Félix Matos Rodríguez, the chancellor of The City University of New York, at a conference panel Wednesday at The Kennedy Center.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA TODAY,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The severity of this year’s flu season is driven by a combination of factors, experts suggested.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA TODAY,
20 Feb. 2025
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Revenues for the three-month period rose 5 percent to $2.2 billion, ahead of the $2.11 billion analysts projected and were driven by progress at Coach, Tapestry’s biggest brand.—
David Moin,
WWD,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
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How Venezuela Helps Fuel Colombian Violence: A decades-old rebel group has waged the worst violence in Colombia in a generation, setting off troubling regional tensions.—
Atul Loke,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2025
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The tragicomedy follows a grieving widower who sets off on an epic quest to find the truth about a mysterious photo left behind by his deceased wife.—
Ed Meza,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The company’s Product Content Optimization platform systematically enriches entire product catalogs with consumer-centric language and attributes, creating a structured data layer that powers both frontend discovery and backend operations.—
Kiri Masters,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
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The Beast, like the Diablo before it, is powered by a 5.7-liter V-12 mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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With their young talent and upcoming draft picks, the Heat have moved forward in crafting such a potential package.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Feb. 2025
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Besides agriculture, Priam also moves steel, flat deck freight, and various industrial materials, serving manufacturers and suppliers across North America.—
William Mullane,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Touch off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touch%20off. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.
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