as in triggering
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 touching off
The university prepared to wash its hands of this important part of its legacy, touching off a furious backlash.
—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
With two minutes left in the period, Parayko ran Yurov into the boards from behind, touching off a fight between the Blues’ defenseman and Trenin.
—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
14 Apr. 2026
Then suddenly, one set charged the other, touching off yearslong bloodshed that researchers are comparing to a human civil war.
—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
9 Apr. 2026
Auriemma’s, UConn’s Hall-of-Fame women’s basketball coach, had an uncharacteristic melt-down during and after his team lost to South Carolina, 62-48, in the semifinals, touching off a shouting match with Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley.
—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
5 Apr. 2026
Last month, the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s editor wrote that a recent job applicant withdrew from consideration for a reporting fellowship after discovering the position included filing notes to an AI writing tool instead of actually writing stories, touching off a heated debate in media circles.
—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Shortly after Goularte got into their pickup truck in Morgan Hill, authorities say, Velasquez shot at him, touching off an 11-mile high-speed car chase through the city that ended near Monterey Road and Bailey Avenue on the southern reaches of San Jose.
—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2026
The Facebook post has been viewed more than 140,000 times, touching off hundreds of comments over driver responsibility and technology.
—
David R. Smith,
USA Today,
16 Oct. 2025
Williams said, touching off laughter.
—
Tom Murphy,
Arkansas Online,
12 Sep. 2025
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
With two minutes left in the period, Parayko ran Yurov into the boards from behind, touching off a fight between the Blues’ defenseman and Trenin.
—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
14 Apr. 2026
Then suddenly, one set charged the other, touching off yearslong bloodshed that researchers are comparing to a human civil war.
—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
9 Apr. 2026
Auriemma’s, UConn’s Hall-of-Fame women’s basketball coach, had an uncharacteristic melt-down during and after his team lost to South Carolina, 62-48, in the semifinals, touching off a shouting match with Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley.
—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
5 Apr. 2026
Last month, the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s editor wrote that a recent job applicant withdrew from consideration for a reporting fellowship after discovering the position included filing notes to an AI writing tool instead of actually writing stories, touching off a heated debate in media circles.
—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Shortly after Goularte got into their pickup truck in Morgan Hill, authorities say, Velasquez shot at him, touching off an 11-mile high-speed car chase through the city that ended near Monterey Road and Bailey Avenue on the southern reaches of San Jose.
—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2026
The Facebook post has been viewed more than 140,000 times, touching off hundreds of comments over driver responsibility and technology.
—
David R. Smith,
USA Today,
16 Oct. 2025
Williams said, touching off laughter.
—
Tom Murphy,
Arkansas Online,
12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touching off
Verb
-
Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela’s central and coastal regions on Wednesday just 39 seconds apart, triggering scenes of panic in Caracas and other cities as preliminary reports of structural damage and injuries began to emerge.
-
Powell said China has such operations lined up and planned well in advance and waits for such triggering events.
Verb
-
But in the kitchen, things go awry again when some sauce boils over onto a burner, activating a safety suppression feature that automatically shuts down the appliance for a half-hour.
-
More time is devoted to setting up the dramatic situation than to activating it.
Verb
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LeBron James is reportedly leaving the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons and one championship, sparking widespread speculation about his next move and Bronny James's future.
-
The protests became a flash point, sparking similar incidents in several other cities in Tennessee and at least one in Florida.
Verb
-
Also boosting demand and driving ticket prices for Saturday’s game is the fact that 41-year-old superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 669 million Instagram followers, is captain of the Portuguese team and has said this World Cup will be his last, making each appearance a high-profile event.
-
Tire pressure sensors are vital to a vehicle’s health, especially when driving on pothole and junk-laden Atlanta streets.
Verb
-
The move could lead to a larger showdown that could increase prices and hinder economic growth, possibly setting off a larger trade war if the 27-member European Union was compelled to retaliate.
-
Other videos show fans setting off fireworks in the street and getting quickly arrested.
Verb
-
Letting the temperature rise slightly during the day means the system isn't turning on and off rapidly all afternoon.
-
Sokolowski also recommends wearing rubber or nitrile gloves to prevent skin irritation, and opening windows or turning on a kitchen exhaust fan before, during, and for a bit after cleaning.
Verb
-
Ashton's journey from moving bins to cleaning them demonstrates that a complete roadmap isn't necessary; curiosity and taking the next step are crucial.
-
These wearable devices are rapidly moving away from novelty into the mainstream.
Cite this Entry
“Touching off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touching%20off. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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