TOUCHES OFF Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

touches off

verb

present tense third-person singular of touch off

as in triggers

to cause to function his obscene comment touched off a heated debate about the need for censorship on live broadcasts

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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 touches off But on its way to him, the ball took the smallest of touches off teammate Igor Matanović. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 3 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for touches off

Verb

Now, his firing triggers a buyout package of around $12 million, according to Yahoo's Ross Dellenger.

— Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Endurance testing Heating the material triggers a chemical reaction that removes loose chlorine ions and forms strong bonds between indium, oxygen, and phosphorus.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of triggers

Verb

The agency rejected the recommendation, saying that using cameras that automatically activate when an officer pulls their weapon or activates a car siren could risk privacy concerns.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
And a few are very highly specific, such as the protease that activates insulin, which only cuts near a very specific series of amino acids.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of activates

Verb

His ability to capture Haymitch’s warmth and charm and then weave that into the rage and heartbreak the Hunger Games sparks is superb.

— Zack Sharf, Variety, 29 Oct. 2026
The Wicker Husband’s clear devotion toward The Fisherwoman sparks envy among dissatisfied wives and anxiety among men who don’t want to live up to a new set of standards.

— Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of sparks

Verb

Lucy’s behavior may be frustratingly inconsistent, but many viewers will recognize the immeasurable suffering that drives it.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
Additive manufacturing drives development A major part of Beehive’s development strategy involves additive manufacturing.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of drives

Verb

Researchers are adapting the magnetron—the same component that powers microwave ovens—to provide the 10 megawatts of power required for ADS.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 19 Feb. 2026
How Wisconsin's solar battery park powers 130,000 homes The Paris Solar farm began producing power in December 2024 and generates 200 megawatts of renewable electricity during the day.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2025

Definition of powers

Verb

As Prue and Curtis struggle to unravel the twisty lore of the obstacle-laden forest in their search for Mac, their outsider presence inadvertently sets off a long-festering showdown for control of the forest between its warring factions.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
In others, the walls are paneled in a gleaming hardwood, which sets off the furniture, upholstered in black and dark-gray velvets.

— Kim Velsey, Curbed, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of sets off

Verb

As part of its process, the powered gimbal moves the image around in the general direction the projector's already facing, stopping the movement several times in the process before continuing, and adjusting the image size several times as well.

— M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
Flight testing moves forward L3Harris has reached the second phase of the Army’s Xtended Range Counter-sUAS Missile program.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of moves

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touches down

touches off

touches (on)

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Style

“Touches off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touches%20off. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of touches off

verb

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