TOUCH OFF Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

touch off

verb

Definition of touch off

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 That touched off speculation that perhaps a bachelorette party or some kind of pre-wedding celebration was afoot. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 20 June 2026 The decision touched off a heated political confrontation, with calls from the opposition for Sanchez's Socialist government to resign. — ABC News, 20 June 2026 The Three Lions narrowly missed another scoring opportunity as Jude Bellingham couldn’t get the proper touch off a cross in front of the net from Noni Madueke in the 32nd minute. — Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2026 The university prepared to wash its hands of this important part of its legacy, touching off a furious backlash. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for touch off

Recent Examples of Synonyms for touch off

Verb

But authorities said the crews needed to carefully map out a rescue plan since a reckless excavation could risk triggering a secondary collapse, especially with the boulders at the scene.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
Long-term care facilities can be triggering environments, with intimate care often delivered by a changing stream of aides whom residents can't recognize.

— Jordan Rau, NPR, 19 July 2026

Definition of trigger

Verb

The company told deputies that someone at the Sheriff's Office or a Flock employee could have reactivated the feature, or that a system bug could have automatically activated it.

— Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 14 July 2026
Press down on the trigger lock switch before squeezing the trigger to activate the blade.

— Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026

Definition of activate

Verb

His goal sparked an offensive assault from Boise as Portland sank into a deep defensive mould, with five defenders and four midfielders sitting tight in their own box.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 18 July 2026
Jon Bernthal as Menelaus Menelaus is the king whose wife Helen sparked the Trojan War.

— Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026

Definition of spark

Verb

The latest in Houston Salgado Araujo, 52, was driving to work with three other construction crew members when unmarked vehicles carrying federal agents began following his van, his family said.

— Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
When Fumi takes a job at Rin’s clinic planning to expose its darker side, their standoff drives the series, with the story more interested in what pushes people toward transformation than in the surgeries themselves.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 July 2026

Definition of drive

Verb

In May, Elon Musk reportedly spent at least $1 billion to buy an energy company with a fleet of combustion turbines, likely to power his AI model, Grok.

— Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 18 July 2026
Chase Infiniti’s heat coming off One Battle After Another was enough to power her campaign more strongly than her show’s.

— Joe Reid, Vulture, 17 July 2026