as in criterion
something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared
his book has long been a touchstone for travel writing that aspires to be literature
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Recent Examples of touchstone
Even in death, a book remains his final touchstone.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
But elsewhere Margaret—who produced the record with longtime collaborator Doug Saltzman—arranges the same core sounds into more interesting, textured configurations, wielding millennial touchstones without the baggage.
—Linnie Greene, Pitchfork, 29 Apr. 2026
Affordability was a touchstone.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 29 Apr. 2026
That’s always been my touchstone.
—Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for touchstone
Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
But elsewhere Margaret—who produced the record with longtime collaborator Doug Saltzman—arranges the same core sounds into more interesting, textured configurations, wielding millennial touchstones without the baggage.
—Linnie Greene, Pitchfork, 29 Apr. 2026
Affordability was a touchstone.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 29 Apr. 2026
That’s always been my touchstone.
—Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for touchstone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touchstone
Noun
-
Workforce demographic data enables employers to design lawful DEI strategies to reduce barriers to equal opportunity, such as implementing broader recruitment measures or ensuring that all hiring criteria are job-related.—
Michelle Travis,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
-
Both the Long Range and the Citizens Bond Advisory committees were tasked with coming up with the criteria that would be used by the district to make recommendations.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
That particular section, which sets new standards around warehouse operations and gives employees more information about company quotas and biometric surveillance, has drawn pushback from CBIA.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
-
The fire extinguisher incident was the latest pitfall in a season that, even by Marseille’s own inherently chaotic standards, has stretched the bounds of credibility.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Spot prices reflect real-time market trading and serve as a benchmark for futures contracts, ETFs and retail bullion pricing.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
-
Consumer Reports’ water filter pitcher ratings are a useful benchmark for comparing pitchers side by side, but won’t tell you whether a pitcher is the right choice at all.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Touchstone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touchstone. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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