touch 1 of 2

verb

ˈtəch How to pronounce touch (audio)
Definition of touchnext
1
as in to feel
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to influence
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 to taint
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 to join
to be adjacent to our property touches theirs right where that big elm tree is

Synonyms & Similar Words
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
as in splash
a very small amount added just a touch of parsley to the dish

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in feature
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind each designer has his or her own personal touches

Synonyms & Similar Words
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
The outer layer is a knitted sports polyester reminiscent of my kids’ soccer shorts, there is an inner washable filter, and the layer that touches my face is an upcycled cotton. ChicoBag claims that a single one of its masks replaces 547 single-use masks. —Lisa Wood Shapiro, Wired News, 18 Apr. 2025 Buy Now for $176 In the compilation video, Hurley stands atop rocks on the beach and walks on the white sandy beaches of the island before letting her feet touch the water. —Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
Settled into four acres of peaceful, wooded space in Northern California’s wine country, a spectacular home blending touches of Southern hospitality and warmth with a contemporary California vibe has hit the market for $4.95 million. —David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 19 Apr. 2025 Add a modern touch with steel Corten weathering steel gives a retaining wall a modern look while shrubs blend the landscape and architecture. —Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for touch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touch
  1. feel
  2. influence
  3. taint
  4. join
  5. affect
  6. contact
  7. splash
  8. feature
Verb
  • In what felt like just a few seconds, the motion subsided, and my seat retreated back to the deck.
    — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • After a cloudy start, the week ahead could feel like summer at times, as temperatures are expected to be mild in the Baltimore area.
    — Dan Belson, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2025
Definition of feel
Verb
  • Yet the case stands to influence legal challenges to the Liberation Day tariffs, too, because the President relied on the same mechanism for both the earlier and more recent tariff announcements, declaring a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, of 1977.
    — Cristian Farias, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Not so long time ago, in a galaxy not so far away, Alfonso Cuarón was unintentionally influencing the future of the Star Wars franchise.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of influence
Verb
  • Apologies to the late John Lennon, but that song has been tainted for many. Need a break?
    — KiMi Robinson, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The river is tainted with harmful toxins from industrial waste, trash and untreated sewage.
    — Kimberly Dickson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of taint
Verb
  • Korir, who won last year’s Chicago Marathon, joins his older brother Wesley as a winner of the Boston Marathon, the first siblings to do so.
    — Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Connecticut was the 17th state to join the country-wide movement to legalize cannabis in 2012.
    — David Goldburg, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2025
Definition of join
Verb
  • The bill's requirement to show proof of citizenship in person would affect millions more voters who do have the documentation but register by mail or online, the Brennan Center said.
    — Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The precise extent of the cancellations and the specific products affected remain unclear.
    — Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of affect
Noun
  • The matchbox-sized gadget houses a bunch of sensors to measure changes in temperature, and the aforementioned gases by collecting them in a small chamber that doesn't come in contact with your skin.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Given how often Musiala carries the ball past defenders and is exposed to physical contact, having an understudy in that position would seem essential.
    — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of contact
Noun
  • Neither does the oak, even after almost 25 years, although that small amount of virgin oak barrels in the mix adds a splash of vibrant wood to the flavor profile.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 13 Apr. 2025
  • The use of blue and limestone beige reflects Malta’s coastal hues, with accents of vibrant red to offer a splash of contrast.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of splash
Noun
  • This is a sprawling document of balance changes, quality-of-life tweaks, and major new features.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Going for a cut that accentuates your best facial features and hair texture can be a foolproof way to walk out of the hair salon feeling happy.
    — Julie Ricevuto, Glamour, 15 Apr. 2025
Definition of feature

Phrases Containing touch

Browse Nearby Words

tot (up)
touch
touchable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Touch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touch. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on touch

Nglish: Translation of touch for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about 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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

'Blue Moon,' 'Wolf Moon,' and Other Moons to Look for Throughout the Year

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name that thing flower edition
Name That Flower Can you tell the difference between a lilac and a...
See All