touch off
verb
touched off; touching off; touches off
1
a
: to provoke or initiate with sudden intensity
the verdict touched off local riots
b
: to cause to explode by or as if by touching with fire
2
: to describe or characterize with precision
Synonyms
Examples of touch off in a Sentence
his obscene comment touched off a heated debate about the need for censorship on live broadcasts
Recent Examples on the Web
The rules have touched off an intense fight between tech companies and the government, as well as among administration officials.
—
Ana Swanson, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
The mayor’s own involuntary commitment initiative, under which NYPD officers and outreach teams took in individuals who appeared to pose a threat, has touched off controversy since its start in 2022.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2025
The city was recovering from the police killing of Arthur McDuffie, which touched off devastating race riots.
—Martin Vassolo, Axios, 13 Sep. 2024
The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer, a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration.
—Michelle L. Price, Los Angeles Times, 28 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for touch off 
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Ana Swanson, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
The mayor’s own involuntary commitment initiative, under which NYPD officers and outreach teams took in individuals who appeared to pose a threat, has touched off controversy since its start in 2022.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2025
The city was recovering from the police killing of Arthur McDuffie, which touched off devastating race riots.
—Martin Vassolo, Axios, 13 Sep. 2024
The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer, a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration.
—Michelle L. Price, Los Angeles Times, 28 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for touch off
Dictionary Entries Near touch off
Cite this Entry
“Touch off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/touch%20off. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.
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