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

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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

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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

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

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

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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

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2
as in splash
a very small amount added just a touch of parsley to the dish

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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

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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

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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
People can also become infected by touching infected secretions, and then inoculating themselves by touching their nose, mouth, or eyes with contaminated hands. —Judy Stone, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025 Since Mendoza’s passing, Marshall has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of condolences from those her wife had touched. —J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
Core inflation, which excludes energy and food, also came in a touch softer than previously indicated. —Medora Lee, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025 Saloni Rita ruffled maxi dress $850 NET-A-PORTER Crafted from silk-georgette in a vibrant pink floral print, this classic silhouette is adorned with cascading ruffles along the V-neckline and tiered skirt for a romantic touch. —Caroline Griswold, Vogue, 27 Mar. 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
  • Many individuals feel too stressed or busy will avoid treating themselves, according to a study by Cornell SC Johnson College of Business published in the Journal of Consumer Research.
    — Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • For the polarizing defenseman, that has felt like three days at some times, and three years at others.
    — Eric Stephens, New York Times, 28 Mar. 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
  • In its letter, the committee said that Albanese’s rhetoric tainted both the U.N. as an institution and her own position.
    — Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Cena's victory, following Mysterio's earlier match, tainted Mysterio's win and shifted focus to Cena's confrontation with the returning CM Punk, overshadowing Mysterio's moment.
    — Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of taint
Verb
  • Jurado joins two other Asian American councilmembers, John Lee and Nithya Raman.
    — Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2025
  • This year, join us in celebrating the iconic legacy of Toy Story.
    — Angela Andaloro, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of join
Verb
  • The precise extent of the cancellations and the specific products affected remain unclear.
    — Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
  • 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
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
  • Ishihara’s still in occasional contact with McGowan, who now teaches psychology at CSU Fullerton.
    — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of contact
Noun
  • Skin tones appear accurate, and splashes of blues and oranges pop out nicely.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Stir-frying is a method of quickly searing and cooking bite-size pieces of protein and vegetables in a splash of oil over high heat.
    — Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of splash
Noun
  • There’s also an option to add on features such as battery storage and electric vehicle chargers.
    — Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Even at such a low price, this unit is packed with features and performance, including a wide 180 degree viewing angle, sharp 2K video, smart object detection and more.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of feature

Phrases Containing touch

Browse Nearby Words

tot (up)
touch
touchable
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Cite this Entry

“Touch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touch. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on touch

Nglish: Translation of touch for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about touch

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