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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of touch off
The decision touched off a heated political confrontation, with calls from the opposition for Sanchez's Socialist government to resign.
—
ABC News,
20 June 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for touch off
ABC News,
20 June 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for touch off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touch off
Verb
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By triggering the release of a natural growth factor in the brain and modulating neural pathways associated with addiction and reward, ibogaine restores healthy dopamine function and reduces cravings, Barsuglia said.
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Vibrations from earth-moving equipment could have triggered further collapses, possibly dooming Gil — and his would-be rescuers.
Verb
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Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights.
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Scent activates pathways that trigger emotional and memory responses.
Verb
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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.
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And a red card against an American soccer star sparks debate.
Verb
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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.
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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
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In Canton, Ohio, a 46-year-old woman was shot in the back while asleep in bed after a man and others reportedly fired weapons into the air and set off fireworks to celebrate the holiday late Friday night.
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Kevin Pina’s rocket set off an eruption of joy, only for Cape Verde to trail at half-time mostly because of Maximiliano Araujo, the only Uruguay attacker showing any semblance of form.
Verb
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Housed in a 39mm yellow gold case, each watch is powered by Corum’s CO082 automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve.
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The connection with Quinones continues to power the Mexican attack.
Verb
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To keep up with the fast-moving aerial acts, the app features an adjustable countdown timer set to the official schedule.
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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 7 Jul. 2026.
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