touch off
verb
touched off; touching off; touches off
1
a
: to provoke or initiate with sudden intensity
the verdict touched off local riots
b
: to cause to explode by or as if by touching with fire
2
: to describe or characterize with precision
Synonyms
Examples of touch off in a Sentence
his obscene comment touched off a heated debate about the need for censorship on live broadcasts
Recent Examples on the Web
The jacket touched off a firestorm of questions about whether Melania Trump, an immigrant herself, was being insensitive, or even callous, to the plight of children separated from their parents while trying to cross the U.S. border.
—
Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2025
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
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Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2025
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
See all Example Sentences for touch off
Dictionary Entries Near touch off
Cite this Entry
“Touch off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/touch%20off. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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