TOUCHED OFF Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

touched off

verb

past tense of touch off

as in activated

to cause to function his obscene comment touched off a heated debate about the need for censorship on live broadcasts

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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 touched off Not since voters passed Proposition 13, an iconic property tax limit, in 1978 and touched off tax revolts in other states has a California measure potentially affected America’s taxation policies so broadly. — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026 The controversy was touched off by a New York Post report that Gordillo lives in a spacious Bedford-Stuyvesant dwelling bought by his parents that is now undergoing renovations. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026 Meanwhile, an electric color palette of zingy greens, bold reds, and Prussian blues–touched off with plenty of black accents–amplifies the property’s wildly original juxtaposition of antiquity and modernity. — Alexandra Kirkman, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 The still-unknown circumstances around Wells’ death have touched off rampant online speculation and prompted calls from Black leaders for transparency from local authorities. — ABC News, 21 July 2026 The receivership touched off a painful community journey that brought on job reductions, layoffs and school closures as enrollment sharply declined. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026 The order prompted the company to disable all global access to the two advanced systems and touched off intensive talks toward a resolution. — Josh Wingrove, Fortune, 27 June 2026 The plans have touched off stiff opposition from neighbors worried about soil erosion, already a problem in an area of steeply sloping topography, and potential well contamination. — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2026 That touched off speculation that perhaps a bachelorette party or some kind of pre-wedding celebration was afoot. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 20 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for touched off

Verb

The feature is only available when a driver has activated Uber’s Record My Ride feature and enabled live streaming, according to information Uber provided to Mashable.

— Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026
The sight had activated an ancient and superstitious circuit in my brain that insisted the sun simply shouldn't look this way.

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of activated

Verb

The blaze appears to have been triggered by an air conditioning compressor explosion inside the nursery where the newborn babies were being cared for, rescue sources told CNN.

— Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
That flood was triggered by the draining of a supraglacial lake in Tibet, a regional climate monitor said.

— Reuters, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of triggered

Verb

Two lakes that subsequently formed beside the site of catastrophic landslides sparked fears of fresh flooding and prompted both China and Nepal to briefly pause rescue efforts.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Tymur Tkachenko, head of the local regional military administration, said that at least 50 residential buildings had been damaged in the attack, which also sparked a large-scale fire that spread to homes and a restaurant.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of sparked

Verb

Ohtani threw about 20 pitches in a bullpen session Friday and wasn’t 100%, and that set off alarm bells with the Dodgers’ bosses.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Whether your fall plans include low-key weekends at home, jet-setting off on vacation, or spending long days in the office, a pair of well-fitting, comfortable pants is the fashion staple that can do it all.

— Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of set off

Verb

In the 1970s, Khouri, who went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Thelma & Louise, drove past the Tudor-style house almost every day.

— Caroline Randall Williams, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026
The next day, David drove back to Altadena while Lauren took the girls to Target to buy toothbrushes and underwear.

— Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of drove

Browse Nearby Words

touched down

touched off

touched (on)

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“Touched off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touched%20off. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of touched off

verb

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