touch 1 of 2

1
2
3
4
5
as in to affect
to be the business or affair of I don't think this decision touches you, so butt out

Synonyms & Similar Words

touch

2 of 2

noun

1
as in contact
the state or fact of being able to exchange information regarding one's current situation everyone promised to keep in touch over the summer

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
4
as in hint
an almost imperceptible sign of something a touch of irritation tinged his voice as the candidate fielded yet another question about his personal finances

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb touch differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of touch are affect, impress, influence, strike, and sway. While all these words mean "to produce or have an effect upon," touch may carry a vivid suggestion of close contact and may connote stirring, arousing, or harming.

plants touched by frost
his emotions were touched by her distress

When can affect be used instead of touch?

The words affect and touch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, affect implies the action of a stimulus that can produce a response or reaction.

the sight affected her to tears

Where would impress be a reasonable alternative to touch?

The meanings of impress and touch largely overlap; however, impress stresses the depth and persistence of the effect.

only one of the plans impressed him

When could influence be used to replace touch?

The synonyms influence and touch are sometimes interchangeable, but influence implies a force that brings about a change (as in nature or behavior).

our beliefs are influenced by our upbringing

When is strike a more appropriate choice than touch?

While in some cases nearly identical to touch, strike, similar to but weaker than impress, may convey the notion of sudden sharp perception or appreciation.

struck by the solemnity of the occasion

When is it sensible to use sway instead of touch?

Although the words sway and touch have much in common, sway implies the acting of influences that are not resisted or are irresistible, with resulting change in character or course of action.

politicians who are swayed by popular opinion

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 touch
Verb
South Korea’s Kospi index touched a record high early Monday as the government reversed its tax-hike plan. Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025 In a story of love and loss that has touched hearts online, a woman's engagement joy was quickly followed by an unimaginable tragedy. Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
During the conversation, the former late-night host revealed that the Star Wars actor recently got in touch about an extremely specific conundrum. Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 13 Sep. 2025 Every character is developed with a complete arc, always rendered with a humanist touch. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 13 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for touch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touch
Verb
  • After his low-effort performance, anchored by a gimmick that made the show feel like a telethon, viewers might be asking themselves the same thing.
    Judy Berman, Time, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Even moments meant to feel spontaneous are staged.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Her pieces consisted of geometric tops influenced by flowers’ natural designs and also modernized micro shorts.
    Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The efficiency and immediacy of space medicine may well influence healthcare innovation far beyond orbit, inspiring systems that are faster, cheaper, and more accessible.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Rahmani, the former prosecutor, said statements by Patel and other Justice Department officials could raise concerns about tainting the jury pool in a future trial.
    Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Swift and Lively’s long friendship had been a distinct sub-plot in the IEWU legal battles, with tabloid fodder that the duo have fallen out over the controversy adverse Eras Tour performer getting tainted with the whole thing.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • On Tuesday, it was reported that Indian troops had joined a military drill with Russian and Belarusian forces near Minsk, days after Russian drones entered Polish and Romanian airspace.
    Chloe Taylor,Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
  • In doing so Story joined an exclusive club and now has a chance to set MLB history.
    Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • If $3 billion in additional funding through 2090 isn't approved, and soon, tens of thousands of people from different genders, races and cultural backgrounds will be affected.
    Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Exchange rates affect everything from groceries to retirement.
    Tom Zachystal, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In November 2023, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology introduced new social media regulations, requiring platforms to register with the government, set up a local contact point, appoint a grievance officer and designate an oversight official.
    Nir Kshetri, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Conventional cooling systems often rely on cold plates that offer indirect contact with battery cells, which can result in uneven temperature distribution.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Right now, the studio seems focused on delivering quality, memorable, and creative games that people want to play not just because of the brand name splash screen that will appear before the main menu.
    David Jagneaux, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • And the American redstart — a jetblack little fellow with orange splashes — pretty much stopped breeding here in the early 2000s.
    Ari Daniel, NPR, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The 2025 Ford Explorer’s welcome new features add function to an already good midsize SUV.
    Mark Phelan, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • His killing could become not just a tragedy but a catalyst—an event that radicalizes ever more Americans, less an aberration than a feature of our increasingly perilous national politics.
    Eric Cortellessa, Time, 11 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Touch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touch. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on touch

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!