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
The Three Lions narrowly missed another scoring opportunity as Jude Bellingham couldn’t get the proper touch off a cross in front of the net from Noni Madueke in the 32nd minute.
—
Jim Barnes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 June 2026
The university prepared to wash its hands of this important part of its legacy, touching off a furious backlash.
—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
The race has touched off negative campaign advertisements between Feenstra and leading opponent and businessman Zach Lahn.
—
Cooper Worth,
Des Moines Register,
2 June 2026
In 1971, Nixon replaced Martin with a distinguished economist, Arthur Burns, whose policies touched off the great inflation.
—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for touch off
Jim Barnes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 June 2026
The university prepared to wash its hands of this important part of its legacy, touching off a furious backlash.
—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
The race has touched off negative campaign advertisements between Feenstra and leading opponent and businessman Zach Lahn.
—
Cooper Worth,
Des Moines Register,
2 June 2026
In 1971, Nixon replaced Martin with a distinguished economist, Arthur Burns, whose policies touched off the great inflation.
—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for touch off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touch off
Verb
-
Attorney Al Watkins, who represented the McCloskeys during the early stages of the controversy, said one of the biggest misconceptions about the case is what triggered the confrontation in the first place.
-
The satellite's primary objective, though, is to observe gamma-ray bursts – events triggered by the catastrophic deaths of massive stars and considered to be the most powerful types of explosions in the universe.
Verb
-
Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights.
-
Scent activates pathways that trigger emotional and memory responses.
Verb
-
Whereas the federal incentive may have been enough to spark interest in a range of buyers, Moody said the lesser amount will probably appeal mainly to people who already have their eye on an EV.
-
And a red card against an American soccer star sparks debate.
Verb
-
The abnormal heat has been driven by the onset of El Niño, a natural climate pattern characterized by unusually warm waters along the equatorial tropical Pacific Ocean.
-
Congestion is difficult to predict, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, when driving behavior shifted and peak traffic hours spread out instead of sticking to the more uniform 9-to-5 workday.
Verb
-
With the country cash-strapped, the Arab Spring of 2011 set off a wave of mass migration into Europe, which coincided with the widespread perception that the extra numbers were placing further strains on already creaking resources of jobs, housing and healthcare.
-
Prosecutors said that the group launched a premeditated terror attack on the detention facility inspired by antifa ideology, by setting off fireworks, vandalizing property, and shooting at police officers who responded.
Verb
-
That hardware, in turn, provides the foundation to power next-generation artificial intelligence models.
-
The solar array does not power the building directly but provides power into the city power grid.
Verb
-
To keep up with the fast-moving aerial acts, the app features an adjustable countdown timer set to the official schedule.
-
If anyone shows signs of heat illness, promptly move them to a cool, shaded area.
Cite this Entry
“Touch off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touch%20off. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
