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 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
The mayor’s own involuntary commitment initiative, under which NYPD officers and outreach teams took in individuals who appeared to pose a threat, has touched off controversy since its start in 2022.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2025
The city was recovering from the police killing of Arthur McDuffie, which touched off devastating race riots.
—Martin Vassolo, Axios, 13 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for touch off 
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
The mayor’s own involuntary commitment initiative, under which NYPD officers and outreach teams took in individuals who appeared to pose a threat, has touched off controversy since its start in 2022.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2025
The city was recovering from the police killing of Arthur McDuffie, which touched off devastating race riots.
—Martin Vassolo, Axios, 13 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for touch off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touch off
Verb
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The flurry of changes triggered by the directive has led to the erasure of articles featuring NASA astronomers from underrepresented communities that the agency published in years past, like this one.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
11 Feb. 2025
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Trump's executive actions — many of which have direct links to Project 2025 — have already had far-reaching impacts, triggering a rapid shakeup of the federal bureaucracy.—
Avery Lotz,
Axios,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Shortly after, troopers observed the vehicle heading south on I-91 and followed the vehicle without lights or sirens activated, according to state police.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
4 Feb. 2025
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The month begins with Venus conjunct Neptune in Pisces, activating your expansive ninth house of self-discovery.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
1 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The plan sparked outrage among Floridians and lawmakers of both parties.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
3 Feb. 2025
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These interactions can spark fresh perspectives and solutions. 3.—
Sonia Singh,
Rolling Stone,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Welter got the scoring started with a three-run triple in the second inning and a home run in the fourth inning that drove in two more runs.—
Todd Abeln,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
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Omega-6 fatty acids have also been implicated in the processes that drive colon cancer.—
Mary J. Scourboutakos,
The Conversation,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images Some of the texts had been detected by spam filters across the messaging ecosystem, setting off alarm bells.—
Jenna McLaughlin,
NPR,
2 Feb. 2025
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The convoy of OCTAs set off to climb those mountains, trading pebbled roads for harder tracks in places, and some cement surfaces where runoff was an obvious issue.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
30 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Markets shrug off tariff fears U.S. stocks rose on Monday, powered by major tech names and as traders looked past the latest U.S. tariff threat from President Donald Trump.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2025
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In November, a record price at auction was set by a work created for a robot powered by AI.—
George Nelson,
ARTnews.com,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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But this move now primes them to break the long drought and be much more formidable moving forward.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
3 Feb. 2025
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Commission Chairman Anthony Rodriguez said votes will be taken in February on whether to move ahead incinerator.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
2 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near touch off
Cite this Entry
“Touch off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touch%20off. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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