as in triggers
to cause to function
his obscene comment touched off a heated debate about the need for censorship on live broadcasts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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 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
-
Using solar energy, the device triggers evaporation to draw lithium inward, while its unique 30-degree tilt manages waste.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
-
With persistent slabs, the first few travelers may pass without incident, only to hit a weak spot later that triggers a full release.—
Callie Zanandrie,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Instead of recognizing the tumor as an invader that needs to be destroyed, the brain processes the signal and activates the sympathetic nervous system, mainly known as the driver of the fight-or-flight response.—
Jacek Krywko,
Scientific American,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Warm water increases gastric volume (the amount of contents in the stomach) and activates stretch receptors in your stomach, which send signals of fullness, Dardarian adds.—
Julia Ries Wexler,
Outside,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Lake Zurich 18-9 (3) Addison Leonard’s outstanding defense against Libertyville star Lily Fisher sparks the Bears, who surge to the top of the North Suburban Conference.—
Bobby Narang,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Their collaboration sparks unlikely friendships and sets off consequences none had anticipated.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Unlike body composition metrics, BMI obscures the true extent of metabolic dysfunction and cannot distinguish between muscle and fat — or between superficial fat and the visceral fat that drives diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions.—
Bret Scher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Some of what also drives Honnold is making the world a better place.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
This process, which powers the sun and stars, offers the potential for a virtually limitless power source.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Money may flow freely as the intuitive Moon moves through your 2nd House of Resources, trining lucky Jupiter in your 10th House of Goals.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The intuitive Moon moves through your 9th House of Travel, heightening the longing to explore ideas that restore hope and widen your world.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Touches off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touches%20off. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
