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
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
And that is touching off intense anger among progressive politicians and the local environmental community.
—
Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2025
But even before the pandemic touched off this current period of upheaval, businesses' technical skill requirements were already rapidly evolving.
—Elaine Pulakos, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Another missile hit a fuel refinery in the coastal city of Haifa, touching off a huge blaze.
—Greg Myre, NPR, 16 June 2025
Students and faculty members at the university said the disruption to grant funding has touched off a brain drain from the United States as researchers increasingly leave for positions abroad.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for touch off
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Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2025
But even before the pandemic touched off this current period of upheaval, businesses' technical skill requirements were already rapidly evolving.
—Elaine Pulakos, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Another missile hit a fuel refinery in the coastal city of Haifa, touching off a huge blaze.
—Greg Myre, NPR, 16 June 2025
Students and faculty members at the university said the disruption to grant funding has touched off a brain drain from the United States as researchers increasingly leave for positions abroad.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for touch off
Cite this Entry
“Touch off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/touch%20off. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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