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 heat triggers a chemical reaction that strips the oxygen away, leaving behind carbon monoxide as a byproduct.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Mar. 2026
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The heat in peppers comes from capsaicin, a chemical that triggers pain receptors in humans and other creatures.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Scientists have discovered that a soft, loving caress activates specific nerve fibers that light up parts of the brain associated with emotion, not just sensation.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
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Crushing or chopping garlic activates allicin, its key compound, and fresh ginger provides gingerol.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Set against the charming backdrop of North Carolina, Bride Wars, the TV series, follows abig-city wedding planner (Emma Roberts) whose arrival in a small town sparks an epic showdown with a beloved local planner.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2026
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The tragic admission, coming more than a week after Guthrie’s last appeal to her mother’s captors, sparks questions as to why investigators and the family chose to wait weeks to put forward such a large and enticing reward.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There’s a two-story vaulted window with a view of the hillside, a keyboard, a sofa, crates for when Fleming drives up with his three rescue dogs (Daysy, Erik, and Luchie, two pit mixes and a miniature poodle), and a vintage Mork & Mindy poster on the wall.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
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That silver spot price is what drives the baseline value of silver coins.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 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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In Terminator, an all-powerful, faultless AI becomes sentient, decides that humans are the enemy, and sets off a nuclear apocalypse.—
Bipul Sinha,
Fortune,
27 Jan. 2026
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Convinced that these images faithfully represent America, a group of villagers sets off for the New World.—
Tope Folarin,
The Atlantic,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Often the company moves as one organic mass, a school of fish or flock of birds.—
Jed Gottlieb,
Boston Herald,
1 Mar. 2026
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On a February Los Angeles morning, Gyllenhaal moves briskly across the lobby of a low-key-chic hotel, barely breaking stride to ask that, instead of a discreet celeb-friendly indoor corner table, perhaps our interview could take place on an outdoor patio.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Touches off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touches%20off. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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