Synonyms of touch

touch 1 of 2

verb

ˈtəch 

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

• feel
• caress
• kiss
• embrace
• grasp
• hug
• grip
• hold
• rub
• finger
• stroke
• brush
• lip
• nudge
• tap
• pat
• clasp
• paw
• fondle
• nose
• knock
• shave
• clutch
• hit
• palm
• palpate
• tip
• handle
• flick
• graze
• clench
• nuzzle
• dab
• clap
• cling (to)
• skim
• whack
• tag
• chuck
• pound
• palp
• rap

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

• influence
• affect
• impress
• impact
• strike
• reach
• sway
• tell (on)
• interest
• move
• inspire
• get to
• bother
• involve
• disturb
• dazzle
• attract
• worry
• entrance
• penetrate
• concern
• carry away
• fascinate
• try
• stir
• bias
• engage
• trouble
• plague
• transport
• color
• distress
• charm
• discomfort
• upset
• harass
• pierce
• afflict
• enrapture
• stress
• smite
• enthrall
• ravish
• enchant
• wring
• captivate
• agitate
• fluster
• perturb
• pester
• disquiet
• allure
• strain
• discompose
• harry
• bewitch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weary
• bore
• pall
• tire
• jade
• underwhelm

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

• taint
• poison
• spoil
• mar
• stain
• darken
• tarnish
• blemish
• smear
• discredit
• distort
• vitiate
• dirty
• soil
• degrade
• smudge
• blur
• blacken
• corrupt
• pollute
• tar
• shame
• sully
• cloud
• besmirch
• twist
• smut
• sink
• disgrace
• discolor
• lower
• color
• pervert
• dishonor
• subvert
• besmear
• demean
• debase
• smirch
• abase
• cheapen
• foul
• begrime
• demoralize
• debauch
• deprave
• bastardize

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• purify
• cleanse
• elevate
• magnify
• uplift
• glorify
• dignify
• ennoble
• enshrine
• hallow

4

as in to join

to be adjacent to

our property touches theirs right where that big elm tree is

Synonyms & Similar Words

• join
• neighbor
• flank
• adjoin
• surround
• fringe
• march (with)
• meet
• verge (on)
• contact
• abut
• communicate (with)
• line
• connect (with)
• attach (to)
• border (on)
• butt (on or against)
• bound
• skirt
• fence
• link (with)
• margin
• enclose
• embrace
• converge
• encircle
• rim

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

• affect
• concern
• involve
• apply (to)
• bear (on)
• relate (to)
• refer (to)
• pertain (to)
• appertain (to)
• implicate
• ensnare
• embroil
• entangle

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

• contact
• communication
• hold
• communion
• commerce
• intercourse
• intercommunication

2

as in splash

a very small amount

added just a touch of parsley to the dish

Synonyms & Similar Words

• splash
• hint
• glimmer
• sprinkling
• shred
• speck
• little
• lick
• bit
• trace
• dab
• spark
• tad
• smack
• particle
• smell
• handful
• pinch
• streak
• sliver
• ray
• smidgen
• crumb
• drop
• suspicion
• dash
• fleck
• spot
• spatter
• ounce
• strain
• minimum
• shade
• bite
• nip
• scintilla
• dram
• scruple
• peanuts
• taste
• soupçon
• mite
• snap
• drop in the bucket
• shadow
• dose
• portion
• whit
• ace
• skosh
• grain
• driblet
• semblance
• modicum
• part
• jot
• dot
• nibble
• molecule
• mote
• patch
• atom
• vestige
• syllable
• iota
• section
• scrap
• granule
• minim
• morsel
• smattering
• fragment
• scattering
• tittle
• shiver
• hoot
• flake
• splinter
• nubbin
• flyspeck
• chip
• shard
• clipping
• shaving
• paring
• smatter
• shot
• tatter
• smithereens

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deal
• quantity
• mass
• loads
• wealth
• plenty
• mountain
• mess
• bucket
• abundance
• pile
• stack
• lot
• bundle
• barrel
• volume
• peck
• heaps
• raft
• bushel
• wad
• profusion
• fistful
• reams
• excess
• lashings
• gobs
• surplus
• embarrassment
• much
• overflow
• oodles
• boatload
• scads
• potful
• passel
• slab
• lump
• surfeit
• superfluity
• overabundance
• superabundance
• bonanza
• chunk
• oversupply
• overage
• hunk
• overmuch
• overkill

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

• feature
• characteristic
• quality
• attribute
• trait
• attribution
• criterion
• property
• mark
• hallmark
• affection
• fingerprint
• marker
• specific
• stamp
• particularity
• note
• peculiarity
• point
• character
• sign
• symbol
• indication
• diagnostic
• emblem
• charm
• grace
• badge
• differentia
• token
• virtue
• merit
• excellence
• individuality
• uniqueness
• singularity
• eccentricity
• quirk
• idiosyncrasy
• oddity

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

• hint
• flicker
• glimmer
• suggestion
• breath
• trace
• whiff
• sign
• tang
• scent
• wind
• evidence
• indication
• inkling
• intimation
• mark

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• saturation
• permeation
• pervasion

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

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

Recent Examples of touch

Verb

In a price-sensitive economic climate – with Australians being warned that fuel shortages related to the United States and Israel’s war on Iran could drive up inflation and interest rates – the notion of people spending thousands of dollars on a weekend retreat may have touched a nerve. —Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026

Coming on the heels of Josh and Lindsay’s touching exchange, this one feels too direct, not thorny enough. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026

Noun

The winter garden, which transforms from an interior to an exterior space via folding glass panels, points to the kind of innovative touches one can expect throughout. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 16 Apr. 2026

The puffy sleeves add a feminine touch while still keeping the top versatile enough for everyday wear. —Aashna Gheewalla, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026

Phrases Containing touch

• a touch
• get in touch with
• keep in touch with
• soft touch
• touch (on or upon)
• touch (on)
• touch base (with)
• touch down
• touch off