Synonyms of touched off

touched off

verb

past tense of touch off

as in activated

to cause to function

his obscene comment touched off a heated debate about the need for censorship on live broadcasts

Synonyms & Similar Words

• activated
• triggered
• sparked
• set off
• drove
• moved
• powered
• turned on
• generated
• cranked (up)
• started
• fueled
• actuated
• ignited
• provoked
• charged
• pushed
• ran
• turned over
• fired
• electrified
• kicked over
• launched
• stimulated
• released
• switched
• stepped up
• energized
• stirred up
• discharged
• sped (up)
• excited
• reactivated
• tripped
• accelerated
• aroused
• recharged
• incited
• instigated
• quickened
• catalyzed
• vitalized
• jump-started
• kick-started

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shut off
• cut out
• turned off
• killed
• cut
• cut off
• stopped
• checked
• stuck
• arrested
• drew up
• halted
• jammed
• stalled
• deactivated
• suppressed
• slowed
• stunted
• repressed
• braked
• decelerated

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of touched off

The story touched off an investigation by the United States Anti-Doping Agency that eventually led to the coach’s four-year ban. — Tracy Weber, ProPublica, 18 Sep. 2026

Trump’s tariffs on Canada, for example, have touched off a trade war with one of the United States’ closest allies. — Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026

Not since voters passed Proposition 13, an iconic property tax limit, in 1978 and touched off tax revolts in other states has a California measure potentially affected America’s taxation policies so broadly. — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026

The controversy was touched off by a New York Post report that Gordillo lives in a spacious Bedford-Stuyvesant dwelling bought by his parents that is now undergoing renovations. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026

Meanwhile, an electric color palette of zingy greens, bold reds, and Prussian blues–touched off with plenty of black accents–amplifies the property’s wildly original juxtaposition of antiquity and modernity. — Alexandra Kirkman, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

The still-unknown circumstances around Wells’ death have touched off rampant online speculation and prompted calls from Black leaders for transparency from local authorities. — ABC News, 21 July 2026

The receivership touched off a painful community journey that brought on job reductions, layoffs and school closures as enrollment sharply declined. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

The order prompted the company to disable all global access to the two advanced systems and touched off intensive talks toward a resolution. — Josh Wingrove, Fortune, 27 June 2026