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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The bride’s shocking personal revelation triggers her maid of honor and sends the groom into a tailspin, igniting wedding reception chaos that overshadows their characters’ union from the start.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
13 Apr. 2026
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Bankruptcy is a more sweeping option that triggers an automatic stay, which is an immediate legal halt to all collection activity, including garnishment, the moment a petition is filed.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Servín activates his panic button that many searchers carry.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
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Unlike traditional compression, which applies constant pressure—whether it’s needed or not—Rheon activates only during impact (movement or strain) and then returns to a flexible state.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Continue reading … COPYCAT RISK — Molotov cocktail attack on Sam Altman's home sparks fears of similar strikes against tech executives.—
,
FOXNews.com,
14 Apr. 2026
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As for how quickly sparks will start flying between Amy and Ben, Steinberg was noncommittal.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The trading push comes as the Middle East war disrupts commodity flows and drives up costs across global supply chains.—
Lee Ying Shan,Emily Tan,
CNBC,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Scientists know that dark energy is an all-pervasive something that drives the universe’s accelerating expansion.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
16 Apr. 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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The show is a propulsive hurricane of misery and cringe, from the violent incident that sets off this series of unfortunate events to the twists and horrors that unfold.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 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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Each of us moves through a world strewn with figurative mountains and molehills, continually assessing what matters more and what matters less.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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What was a human being a second before is now a head bobbing among the waves as the vessel moves quickly away.—
David Szondy
April 19,
New Atlas,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Touches off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touches%20off. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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