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 trip has touched off a House Oversight Committee investigation and even a call from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) for Zelensky to fire his ambassador to the U.S. for organizing the trip.
—
Andrew Solender, Axios, 26 Sep. 2024
The tightening presidential race has touched off a wave of tax planning by ultra-wealthy investors, especially given fears of a higher estate tax, according to advisors and tax attorneys.
—Robert Frank, CNBC, 13 Sep. 2024
Zambada’s arrest has touched off fighting in Mexico between rival factions in the Sinaloa cartel.
—Jennifer Peltz, Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2024
In 2017, four people were killed and 11 houses were destroyed after a landslide touched off a tsunami that struck the village of Nuugaatsiaq in west Greenland.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 12 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for touch off 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
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Andrew Solender, Axios, 26 Sep. 2024
The tightening presidential race has touched off a wave of tax planning by ultra-wealthy investors, especially given fears of a higher estate tax, according to advisors and tax attorneys.
—Robert Frank, CNBC, 13 Sep. 2024
Zambada’s arrest has touched off fighting in Mexico between rival factions in the Sinaloa cartel.
—Jennifer Peltz, Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2024
In 2017, four people were killed and 11 houses were destroyed after a landslide touched off a tsunami that struck the village of Nuugaatsiaq in west Greenland.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 12 Sep. 2024
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 19 Nov. 2024.
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