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Definition of touchnext
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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

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noun

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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

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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 twin brother also reported that Busfield would touch his body during filming, but did not allege that the touching involved his private areas. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 13 Jan. 2026 The children told police that Busfield, who was a director on the show, asked the kids to call him Uncle Tim and would touch them inappropriately on set. Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
In the aftermath, the Venezuelan opposition coördinated its activities with Rubio and stayed in constant touch. Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026 Beyond the impressive construction, the pitcher is designed with Tupperware’s signature smart push-button lid that switches from closed to pour-ready with the touch of a finger. Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for touch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touch
Verb
  • Saldaña has reason to feel good about keeping her box office crown, too.
    Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Jan. 2026
  • Update Your Bedding Swapping out your bedding for the winter is one of the easiest ways to make your bedroom feel warmer and cozier.
    Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • And how has that censorship, primarily in European languages, influenced self-censorship within the Syrian writing in Arabic or otherwise?
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
  • Weather conditions and rough seas can influence whether SpaceX and NASA commit to undock from the ISS and target a specific splashdown site.
    Josh Dinner, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Viral clothes, engineered to spin the internet into days of discourse, tainted our collective sense of what was glamorous and pretty.
    Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Just as one bite of a cookie might not happen to contain chocolate chips, one small sample of drugs might not include fentanyl even if the larger supply is tainted, the agency’s website explains.
    Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Jim Harbaugh also discounted any notion that his brother would join him with the Chargers in any capacity.
    Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Warren joins former Boise State wide receivers coach Matt Miller and safeties coach Tyler Stockton in departing the program in recent days.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 Jan. 2026
  • But law enforcement experts told CNN the dragging incident last summer could have affected his decision-making – though how such an experience impacts law enforcement varies from officer to officer.
    Mark Morales, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • When the buyer powered on the phone for the first time, a contact number for the House of Representatives Technology Service Desk appeared on the screen, the DOJ said.
    Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
  • Police use these radios to reach dispatch services, contact Emergency Medical Services, and seek backup police services without network interruptions, according to Radio Communications of Virginia.
    Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Atlas is also built to withstand harsh conditions, operating reliably in temperatures from -4°F to 104°F, and is waterproofed to protect it from splashes on factory floors.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 9 Jan. 2026
  • The first round of the International Tennis Federation’s W35 tournament, played on a clay court in Nairobi, Kenya, wouldn’t normally make much of a splash in the tennis world, but millions of people have now seen what transpired over 37 excruciating minutes in the capital.
    Don Riddell, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • This is not always the case, however, as rates, service quality, and coverage features often vary widely.
    Ethan M. Stone, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Of the 14 teams that qualified for the playoffs, eight feature a player with Idaho ties on their roster.
    Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Touch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touch. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.

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