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 shooting touched off three days of violent and fatal protests in the city.
—
Jessica Van Egeren, Journal Sentinel, 3 July 2024
Sherri Papini is set to tell Investigation Discovery her side of the story about a 2016 kidnapping hoax that touched off a media firestorm and landed her in prison.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 July 2024
Extreme rainfall touched off landslides, floods and mudslides in China’s Guangdong province.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 25 June 2024
Loading your audio article OAKLAND – Rollie Fingers strode to the Coliseum’s pitching mound Sunday and relived throwing the final pitch that touched off the A’s third straight World Series celebration 50 years ago.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 23 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for touch off 
Jessica Van Egeren, Journal Sentinel, 3 July 2024
Sherri Papini is set to tell Investigation Discovery her side of the story about a 2016 kidnapping hoax that touched off a media firestorm and landed her in prison.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 July 2024
Extreme rainfall touched off landslides, floods and mudslides in China’s Guangdong province.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 25 June 2024
Loading your audio article OAKLAND – Rollie Fingers strode to the Coliseum’s pitching mound Sunday and relived throwing the final pitch that touched off the A’s third straight World Series celebration 50 years ago.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 23 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for touch off
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'touch off.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share