as in activated
to cause to function
his obscene comment touched off a heated debate about the need for censorship on live broadcasts
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Recent Examples of touched off
McBride, the Commodores, Morris Day & the Time and Young MC have all either withdrawn or publicly denied participation after the lineup reveal touched off immediate backlash.
—
Spin Staff, SPIN, 29 May 2026
The boom in the market was touched off by the overnight success of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which showed that chatbots could answer users’ questions in conversational fashion, threatening to make Google’s list of links to websites obsolete.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 20 May 2026
The plea deals and Johnson’s comments have touched off debates over Missouri’s gun laws.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 11 May 2026
In perhaps the most profound of the recent battles, the Central Florida Expressway Authority touched off an angry revolt by pushing a toll-road extension through a piece of the Split Oak Forest.
—Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026
His death at age 80 has touched off a scramble among candidates seeking to fill the remainder of his term and take his seat in Congress for a full term beginning next year.
—Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 2 May 2026
Their disappearance was not noticed for several hours and touched off a massive manhunt.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
This includes soaring gas prices at the pump, seesawing stock markets, rising food and fertilizer prices, higher shipping-insurance costs, and fuel shortages that have touched off violence, work stoppages, and profiteering in parts of Asia and Africa.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2026
Her announcement touched off a new round of progressive candidates backing away from the Iron Dome.
—Andrew Lapin, Sun Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
Spin Staff, SPIN, 29 May 2026
The boom in the market was touched off by the overnight success of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which showed that chatbots could answer users’ questions in conversational fashion, threatening to make Google’s list of links to websites obsolete.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 20 May 2026
The plea deals and Johnson’s comments have touched off debates over Missouri’s gun laws.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 11 May 2026
In perhaps the most profound of the recent battles, the Central Florida Expressway Authority touched off an angry revolt by pushing a toll-road extension through a piece of the Split Oak Forest.
—Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026
His death at age 80 has touched off a scramble among candidates seeking to fill the remainder of his term and take his seat in Congress for a full term beginning next year.
—Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 2 May 2026
Their disappearance was not noticed for several hours and touched off a massive manhunt.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
This includes soaring gas prices at the pump, seesawing stock markets, rising food and fertilizer prices, higher shipping-insurance costs, and fuel shortages that have touched off violence, work stoppages, and profiteering in parts of Asia and Africa.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2026
Her announcement touched off a new round of progressive candidates backing away from the Iron Dome.
—Andrew Lapin, Sun Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touched off
Verb
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The work’s whistling sounds are activated by pouring liquid into a spout and swirling it around to create changes in atmospheric pressure within.—
Andy Battaglia,
ARTnews.com,
2 June 2026
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The brand also activated at Coachella in April, hosting the Hoody House, which Dickson said sold roughly 10,000 custom hoodies and generating over 300 million social media and press impressions.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
2 June 2026
Verb
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One of the most notable examples came when former MVP James Harden publicly criticized then-Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey after Morey's support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong triggered a backlash from Chinese officials and business partners.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
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Her doctor could not tie her new problem to the assault, but Andrews wonders if the blow to her face triggered it.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Energy security in focus The war’s disruption to the Strait of Hormuz has sharpened focus on energy security around the world and comes on the heels of the energy crisis sparked by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
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Since arriving at the zoo, the buffalo has attracted large crowds and sparked debate over its unusual nickname.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
4 June 2026
Verb
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The evil force of Skeletor (Jared Leto), a bad bad man with no face, brings his minions in and sets off non-stop destruction.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
2 June 2026
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Kylie Jenner recently set off on a summer getaway as part of a Kylie Cosmetics campaign.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
2 June 2026
Verb
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As the family entered the intersection, Erickson drove by them and avoided a collision.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
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Tovar drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to right field in the second.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Touched off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touched%20off. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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