touch off

verb

Definition of touch offnext
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

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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 Meanwhile, an electric color palette of zingy greens, bold reds, and Prussian blues–touched off with plenty of black accents–amplifies the property’s wildly original juxtaposition of antiquity and modernity. — Alexandra Kirkman, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 The still-unknown circumstances around Wells’ death have touched off rampant online speculation and prompted calls from Black leaders for transparency from local authorities. — ABC News, 21 July 2026 The receivership touched off a painful community journey that brought on job reductions, layoffs and school closures as enrollment sharply declined. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026 But on its way to him, the ball took the smallest of touches off teammate Igor Matanović. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for touch off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touch off
  1. trigger
  2. activate
  3. spark
  4. drive
  5. set off
  6. power
  7. move
Verb
  • In the device studied by the scientists, applying a voltage triggered a localized transition from an insulator to a conductor.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Gross domestic product grew over three months ending in June, defying fear of a downturn triggered by the Iran war.
    — Max Zahn, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of trigger
Verb
  • Choose from heat mode or cool mode depending on the season, and then activate night mode for the quietest settings and a dimmer display.
    — Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In order to promote its use, new ShipStation customers who choose to activate Ship with Walmart will be given a 20 percent discount on their annual subscription.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of activate
Verb
  • The killing of a woman in Okinawa has sparked an outcry across Japan and inflamed long-simmering tensions over the US military presence on the island.
    — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The setback sparked wide speculation that Sánchez would move forward the general election and use the momentum on the housing issue against his right-wing opponents.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of spark
Verb
  • The reason for that is the unquenching market need for solid factual projects that can both be popular on linear channels and drive older viewers to streaming services.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The urgency of their push comes as major European companies undergo huge job losses — Volkswagen plans to cut 100,000 workers — which experts have said could drive political upheaval.
    — Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of drive
Verb
  • That set off a flurry of Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure, and the Houthis’ announcement of a blockade against Saudi shipping on the Red Sea — now the main corridor for Saudi energy exports.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • That his name was leaked as a prospective future CEO to drama-seeking observers only set off erroneous ripple effects of speculation that Solomon was headed out the door.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of set off
Verb
  • Nuclear fusion attempts to copy the physical reactions that power the sun.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Because the data center boom is so new, there has not yet been a comprehensive study analyzing how much more electricity and hence pollution is being generated to power them.
    — Anna Zarra Aldrich, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of power
Verb
  • Rural areas account for nearly 40% of sales of fast-moving consumer goods, according to data from consultancy Nielsen Consumer.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Tinubu’s then-employers at Mobil Oil told investigators his treasurer role did not involve moving large sums and that the company never authorized him to hold its funds personally.
    — Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of move

Browse Nearby Words

touching (upon)
touch off
touch (on)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Touch off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touch%20off. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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