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
But the defense has argued throughout trial that other factors could have touched off the blaze, and that even if the cause was the stun gun, there is no proof Crawford meant to pull the trigger.
—
Cristóbal Reyes, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
That incident touched off a rare online discussion over the mental health of Chinese society and whether a string of recent high-profile attacks in other major cities could reflect deeper stresses as the nation’s economy slows.
—Peter Guo, NBC News, 17 Nov. 2024
The additional 600 layoffs, as announced at plants in East Moline, Illinois, and Davenport, Iowa, which touched off the political fireworks, were a response to substantial recent declines in the sales of the machinery made at those plants.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 29 Sep. 2024
This exchange touched off a conflagration involving the district superintendent, human resources, the school principal and Horn, who resigned as Berkley’s athletic director at the end of the school year.
—Austin Meek, The Athletic, 23 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for touch off 
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.
Cristóbal Reyes, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
That incident touched off a rare online discussion over the mental health of Chinese society and whether a string of recent high-profile attacks in other major cities could reflect deeper stresses as the nation’s economy slows.
—Peter Guo, NBC News, 17 Nov. 2024
The additional 600 layoffs, as announced at plants in East Moline, Illinois, and Davenport, Iowa, which touched off the political fireworks, were a response to substantial recent declines in the sales of the machinery made at those plants.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 29 Sep. 2024
This exchange touched off a conflagration involving the district superintendent, human resources, the school principal and Horn, who resigned as Berkley’s athletic director at the end of the school year.
—Austin Meek, The Athletic, 23 Aug. 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 17 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share