as in triggers
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 touches off
The Bengals then lined up for a desperation onside kick and, thanks to the slightest of touches off a Bears player’s foot, managed to recover the ball to get possession back.
—
Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touches off
Verb
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Rain also triggers personal associations — cozy indoor afternoons, quiet nights, childhood rainy days.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
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Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, with snow and heavy rain that triggers flash floods often killing dozens, or even hundreds, of people at a time.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When the brain perceives threat or stress, a small structure called the amygdala activates the body’s alarm system.—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
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The pattern-aware Moon activates your 10th House of Career, supporting practical steps that showcase your skills and leadership in all settings.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Every exchange reveals a story, sparks a friendship and changes a life.—
Ashlee Conour,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
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As the Middle East conflict reshapes shipping corridors and sparks concerns of fuel costs, FedEx is appearing to shrug off any serious impacts to its business.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The social experience of living in Margaritaville, focused around the central activity space, drives much of the interest.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2026
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Lower compensation drives workers away, reduces availability and increases turnover.—
Peter Mattes,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Researchers are adapting the magnetron—the same component that powers microwave ovens—to provide the 10 megawatts of power required for ADS.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Feb. 2026
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How Wisconsin's solar battery park powers 130,000 homes The Paris Solar farm began producing power in December 2024 and generates 200 megawatts of renewable electricity during the day.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This sets off a chain of events for the family for generations.—
Jessica Moore,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
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Attractive green foliage sets off other plants in summer, and in fall, the plant displays a lovely yellow-gold color.—
Lynn McAlpine,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Israel moves fast, launching a bold military operation against a weaker Middle Eastern neighbor.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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After that, the Moon moves from LEO into VIRGO.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Touches off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touches%20off. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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