TOUCHED OFF Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

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

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of touched off 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 The plans have touched off stiff opposition from neighbors worried about soil erosion, already a problem in an area of steeply sloping topography, and potential well contamination. — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for touched off

Verb

There’s also Will Warren, who has pitched well of late, and Clarke Schmidt, who was activated off the IL on Wednesday after a grueling recovery from Tommy John surgery.

— Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026
Barring a setback in his final minor league rehab appearance, he could be activated in time for the playoffs.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of activated

Verb

New defensive tariffs can be imposed only after the commission conducts a formal investigation, which is bound by statutory deadlines and triggered by evidence of injury to European industry.

— JONAS NAHM, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2026
The Saudi pipeline, which can carry 7 million barrels per day, has played a key role in easing the severe oil supply disruption triggered by the Iran war.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of triggered

Verb

Syria will provide subsidized diesel fuel for heating and agriculture after sharp price increases sparked widespread protests this week.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
The rumors were sparked by an X user believed to be model Melanie Jayda, who has been linked to Offset in the past.

— Michael Saponara, Billboard, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of sparked

Verb

As a result, the rise in diesel costs threatens to worsen a surge of inflation set off by the outbreak of the Iran war nearly seven months ago.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026
The move set off increases of up to 5% across pump stations in Lagos and the capital Abuja.

— Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of set off

Verb

The helicopter, which was used by NBC and Telemundo, crashed about two hours after police say Rios drove her 2004 Ford Expedition the wrong way down a busy avenue, ran a red light and struck a vehicle before hitting the bus.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
Stocks posted a comeback one day after the Fed's decision to raise rates by a quarter percentage point — with the suggestion of at least one more rate increase this year — drove major market averages sharply lower Wednesday.

— Justina Lee,Sarah Min, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of drove

Browse Nearby Words

touched down

touched off

touched (on)

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“Touched off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touched%20off. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of touched off

verb

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