touch 1 of 2

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2
3
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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

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
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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
Known for satirizing real-life politics and pop culture issues, this season will again touch on topics other shows would steer away from, like recent airplane crashes, a crisis at the Federal Aviation Administration and the fate of American democracy. Sara Chernikoff, USA Today, 24 July 2025 In the memo, Nadella touched on Microsoft's mission for the past 10 years, which has been to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more, and how the rise of AI is changing it. Jordan Novet, CNBC, 24 July 2025
Noun
The controllers feature excellent haptic feedback, adaptive triggers and finger touch detection. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 25 July 2025 In a nice touch, Sandler and company pay homage to some of the now deceased members of the 1996 film including a clever fight scene in a cemetery right above Bob Barker’s grave, as well as to Carl Weathers’ Chubb, Frances Bay’s Grandma and Richard Kiel’s Mr. Larson. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 25 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for touch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touch
Verb
  • So why does life feel costly for many Michiganders?
    Adrienne Roberts, Freep.com, 27 July 2025
  • His loss is deeply felt across the entire ROTC and Rutgers community.
    Stephanie Kuzydym, The Courier-Journal, 27 July 2025
Verb
  • When a professional athlete is paid to endorse a shoe company in a TV commercial or to influence a brand on social media, that too is use of NIL.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 July 2025
  • However, such studies highlight how profoundly human activity can influence the entire planet.
    David Bressan, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • Zelensky, claims that these crackdowns are needed because anti-corruption investigations were tainted by Russian influence and were doing Putin’s bidding.
    Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 24 July 2025
  • King’s family objected to the release, saying the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s surveillance of the progressive leader was tainted by the agency’s political bent at the time.
    Michael Loria, USA Today, 21 July 2025
Verb
  • The actress, who welcomed her first child in July 2024, was joined by Tucker, 29, for the occasion, along with close friends Alexander Ludwig and his wife Lauren Ludwig, PEOPLE can exclusively reveal.
    Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 26 July 2025
  • Goldberg joins Ilana's former coworkers to perform the song while wearing a nun outfit, clearly referencing her involvement in the Sister Act film series.
    EW.com, EW.com, 26 July 2025
Verb
  • Is There Any Correlation With Peer Earnings? Occasionally, the performance of peers can affect the stock reaction following earnings.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • Helps Protect from Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer's disease is a brain disease that affects memory and thinking.
    Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • Colleges are also required to conduct entrance and exit counseling, disclose tuition and net price clearly, and report enrollment and student contact information accurately.
    Robert Farrington, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
  • The agency is advising the public to stay away from Cartwright Creek downstream of the plant at 1006 Treatment Plant Road, and where the creek flows into the Harpeth River, to avoid coming in contact with contaminated water.
    Gabrielle Chenault, Nashville Tennessean, 27 July 2025
Noun
  • The Cowboys' biggest splash was trading for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens.
    Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
  • The live-action reimagining of Disney's beloved animated classic made a big splash at the worldwide box office after its release in late May, bringing in more than $300 million in its opening weekend.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 17 July 2025
Noun
  • That’s why flexibility is the most important feature of any estate plan built today.
    Luke Britt, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • But psychiatrists struggled to pinpoint a single feature that unified the diagnosis.
    Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 21 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Touch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touch. Accessed 31 Jul. 2025.

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