touching 1 of 3

adjective

ˈtə-chiŋ How to pronounce touching (audio)
Definition of touchingnext
1
as in adjacent
having a border in common touching lots in the housing development will eventually be separated by hedges for privacy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in emotional
having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies a touching movie about two lost animals who try to find their way home

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

touching

2 of 3

preposition

as in regarding
having to do with there has been an objection touching the last of the proposed new bylaws

Synonyms & Similar Words

touching

3 of 3

verb

present participle of touch
1
as in feeling
to come into bodily contact with (something) so as to perceive a slight pressure on the skin be careful not to touch this pan—it's still hot

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2
as in affecting
to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response your speech on the true meaning of patriotism touched me deeply

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in marring
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable unfortunately, his insufferable arrogance tends to touch even the good deeds that he does

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in adjoining
to be adjacent to our property touches theirs right where that big elm tree is

Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in concerning
to be the business or affair of I don't think this decision touches you, so butt out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word touching distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of touching are affecting, impressive, moving, pathetic, and poignant. While all these words mean "having the power to produce deep emotion," touching implies arousing tenderness or compassion.

the touching innocence in a child's eyes

How are the words affecting and moving related as synonyms of touching?

Affecting is close to moving but most often suggests pathos.

an affecting deathbed reunion

When could impressive be used to replace touching?

While the synonyms impressive and touching are close in meaning, impressive implies compelling attention, admiration, wonder, or conviction.

an impressive list of achievements

When might moving be a better fit than touching?

The words moving and touching can be used in similar contexts, but moving may apply to any strong emotional effect including thrilling, agitating, saddening, or calling forth pity or sympathy.

a moving appeal for contributions

When can pathetic be used instead of touching?

The meanings of pathetic and touching largely overlap; however, pathetic implies moving to pity or sometimes contempt.

pathetic attempts to justify misconduct

Where would poignant be a reasonable alternative to touching?

In some situations, the words poignant and touching are roughly equivalent. However, poignant applies to what keenly or sharply affects one's sensitivities.

a poignant documentary on the homeless

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 touching
Adjective
Allegations of unwanted touching, inappropriate comments, sexualization and other incidents soon followed, according to students. —Robert Anglen, AZCentral.com, 17 July 2025 Many of the photographs show the rescue efforts among the piles of debris but one photo stands out for its touching moment of humanity. —Chris Ochsner, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2025 Pauline's effort to overcome inherent stage fright and embrace the magical power of her singing voice was surprisingly touching. —ArsTechnica, 16 July 2025 How Hearts Still Beating is different: Former best friends — one a recovering zombie, one healing from trauma — are reunited in this touching second-chance sapphic romance. —Rebecca Dazenbaker, People.com, 15 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for touching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touching
  1. adjacent
  2. emotional
  3. regarding
  4. affecting
  5. impressive
  6. joining
  7. adjoining
  8. moving
Adjective
  • In the courtroom gallery, scores of law enforcement officers — many of them other parole agents and colleagues from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation — looked on, in a crowd that spilled out into the adjacent hallway.
    — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 22 July 2025
  • The Israeli army, which recruits heavily among Israel's own Druze population, has declared part of the area adjacent to the border fence in northern Golan a closed military zone, according to Israel's Channel 12.
    — Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
Definition of adjacent
Adjective
  • They are then adopted out to be a pet or are placed in police, fire and EMS stations to provide emotional support.
    — Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
  • The vote dashed the hopes of those with the 156-year-old Art Academy, who gave emotional pleas in recent weeks to city leaders for help.
    — Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 30 July 2025
Definition of emotional
Preposition
  • Was any decision made regarding reducing Partey’s media obligations?
    — James McNicholas, New York Times, 11 July 2025
  • The tragedy is still under investigation but concerns have been raised regarding congested airspace and understaffed air traffic control facilities at Reagan National.
    — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 5 Feb. 2025
Definition of regarding
Verb
  • This helps your healthcare provider check for infections, kidney problems, or other issues affecting your bladder and urinary tract.
    — Sayaka Blickenderfer, PhD, Health, 14 Mar. 2025
  • This helps your healthcare provider check for infections, kidney problems, or other issues affecting your bladder and urinary tract.
    — Sayaka Blickenderfer, PhD, Health, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of affecting
Adjective
  • Arizona strikes me as a team that will once again be good for a few impressive wins (see: last year's 41-10 evisceration of the Rams in Week 2).
    — Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025
  • Lambert-Smith has exhibited some impressive ball-tracking in the deep part of the field.
    — Daniel Popper, New York Times, 31 July 2025
Definition of impressive
Verb
  • Tesla plans to launch a ride-hail service in Austin around June, joining Amazon’s (AMZN) Zoox and Waymo — among others — in the city.
    — William Gavin, Quartz, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Collins is the third TCU player to enter the portal joining Vasean Allette and Isaiah Manning.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2025
Definition of joining
Adjective
  • Gann stored the devices on the roofs of two adjoining apartment buildings in the SoHo neighborhood and threw one of the devices onto the subway tracks of the Williamsburg Bridge, according to the indictment.
    — Jack Moore, ABC News, 22 July 2025
  • The property includes not just the Fine Line but also the adjoining six-story Consortium Building, which includes offices and Gidi Bar & Lounge.
    — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 22 July 2025
Definition of adjoining
Adjective
  • Newman and Curtin also were responsible for one of the night's most moving moments, holding up a photograph of the late Gilda Radner during the cast's goodbyes at the end of the show.
    — Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 24 July 2025
  • Yet the most moving and memorable picture in the show, aside from Rembrandt’s, is one by his contemporary Hendrick van Steenwijk the Younger, on loan from the National Gallery, in Washington, D.C.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 19 July 2025
Definition of moving

Browse Nearby Words

touchiness
touching
touching base (with)
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Cite this Entry

“Touching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touching. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.

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