Synonyms of touching

touching 1 of 3

adjective

ˈtə-chiŋ 

1

as in adjacent

having a border in common

touching lots in the housing development will eventually be separated by hedges for privacy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• adjacent
• neighboring
• adjoining
• closest
• joining
• bordering
• close
• attached
• contiguous
• juxtaposed
• united
• abutting
• flanking
• connecting
• connected
• fringing
• flush
• nearest
• communicating
• linked
• skirting
• near
• conterminous
• verging
• surrounding
• nearby
• embracing
• encircling
• joined
• approximate
• next-door
• enclosing
• immediate
• fencing
• nigh
• peripheral
• bounding
• tangential
• marginal
• encompassing
• ambient
• interconnecting
• tangent
• inclosing
• rimming
• circumjacent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• apart
• separate
• single
• discrete
• isolated
• unconnected
• detached
• noncontiguous
• disconnected
• distant
• removed
• isolate
• unattached
• remote
• nonadjacent
• far
• free-standing
• farthest
• unlinked
• away
• discontinuous
• divided
• resolved
• severed
• broken up
• split
• far-off
• faraway
• noncontinuous
• parted
• divorced
• dissociated
• uncoupled
• ramified
• disunited
• disjoined
• sundered
• dissevered
• unyoked

2

as in emotional

having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies

a touching movie about two lost animals who try to find their way home

Synonyms & Similar Words

• emotional
• impressive
• moving
• poignant
• exciting
• passionate
• stirring
• affecting
• excitable
• inspirational
• impactful
• eloquent
• dramatic
• meaningful
• expressive
• feeling
• theatrical
• provoking
• theatric
• significant
• responsive
• demonstrative
• stimulating
• sensitive
• rousing
• melodramatic
• cathartic
• histrionic

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unemotional
• cold
• unimpressive
• detached
• cool
• dispassionate
• unaffecting
• emotionless
• deadpan

touching

2 of 3

preposition

as in regarding

having to do with

there has been an objection touching the last of the proposed new bylaws

Synonyms & Similar Words

• regarding
• concerning
• about
• on
• of
• towards
• toward
• respecting
• as for
• with respect to
• with regard to
• in view of
• in regard to
• as respects
• in respect to
• as regards
• apropos
• apropos of
• as to
• as far as
• over

touching

3 of 3

verb

present participle of touch

1

as in feeling

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

• feeling
• caressing
• kissing
• embracing
• hugging
• grasping
• rubbing
• gripping
• holding
• stroking
• brushing
• fondling
• pawing
• clasping
• nuzzling
• nudging
• fingering
• tapping
• patting
• clutching
• palpating
• shaving
• knocking
• flicking
• hitting
• clenching
• handling
• clapping
• nosing
• tipping
• grazing
• palming
• skimming
• clinging (to)
• dabbing
• lipping
• palping
• whacking
• pounding
• chucking
• rapping
• tagging

2

as in affecting

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

• affecting
• influencing
• impacting
• impressing
• striking
• reaching
• interesting
• swaying
• inspiring
• moving
• involving
• telling (on)
• bothering
• fascinating
• getting to
• disturbing
• concerning
• penetrating
• attracting
• dazzling
• stirring
• ravishing
• engaging
• worrying
• transporting
• troubling
• enchanting
• carrying away
• entrancing
• distressing
• upsetting
• biasing
• captivating
• plaguing
• harassing
• enrapturing
• trying
• piercing
• enthralling
• charming
• disquieting
• afflicting
• stressing
• perturbing
• coloring
• smiting
• biassing
• bewitching
• pestering
• discomforting
• agitating
• wringing
• alluring
• flustering
• straining
• discomposing
• harrying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tiring
• boring
• wearying
• palling
• jading
• underwhelming

3

as in marring

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

• marring
• spoiling
• tainting
• poisoning
• darkening
• staining
• tarnishing
• lowering
• degrading
• distorting
• smearing
• discrediting
• vitiating
• blackening
• corrupting
• blurring
• polluting
• blemishing
• soiling
• dirtying
• smudging
• discoloring
• clouding
• sullying
• besmirching
• disgracing
• twisting
• debasing
• shaming
• sinking
• dishonoring
• tarring
• demeaning
• subverting
• besmearing
• cheapening
• smutting
• perverting
• fouling
• smirching
• debauching
• demoralizing
• abasing
• coloring
• begriming
• depraving
• bastardizing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cleansing
• purifying
• elevating
• uplifting
• magnifying
• glorifying
• ennobling
• dignifying
• enshrining
• hallowing

4

as in adjoining

to be adjacent to

our property touches theirs right where that big elm tree is

Synonyms & Similar Words

• adjoining
• joining
• flanking
• surrounding
• neighboring
• abutting
• marching (with)
• skirting
• bordering (on)
• meeting
• verging (on)
• lining
• butting (on or against)
• connecting (with)
• fringing
• enclosing
• encircling
• communicating (with)
• attaching (to)
• contacting
• inclosing
• bounding
• linking (with)
• embracing
• converging
• rimming
• fencing
• margining

5

as in concerning

to be the business or affair of

I don't think this decision touches you, so butt out

Synonyms & Similar Words

• affecting
• concerning
• involving
• relating (to)
• applying (to)
• pertaining (to)
• bearing (on)
• referring (to)
• appertaining (to)
• implicating
• ensnaring
• embroiling
• entangling

Synonym Chooser

How is the word touching distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of touching are affecting, impressive, moving, pathetic, and poignant. While all these words mean "having the power to produce deep emotion," touching implies arousing tenderness or compassion.

the touching innocence in a child's eyes

How are the words affecting and moving related as synonyms of touching?

Affecting is close to moving but most often suggests pathos.

an affecting deathbed reunion

When could impressive be used to replace touching?

While the synonyms impressive and touching are close in meaning, impressive implies compelling attention, admiration, wonder, or conviction.

an impressive list of achievements

When might moving be a better fit than touching?

The words moving and touching can be used in similar contexts, but moving may apply to any strong emotional effect including thrilling, agitating, saddening, or calling forth pity or sympathy.

a moving appeal for contributions

When can pathetic be used instead of touching?

The meanings of pathetic and touching largely overlap; however, pathetic implies moving to pity or sometimes contempt.

pathetic attempts to justify misconduct

Where would poignant be a reasonable alternative to touching?

In some situations, the words poignant and touching are roughly equivalent. However, poignant applies to what keenly or sharply affects one's sensitivities.

a poignant documentary on the homeless

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of touching

Adjective

Mack ended his post with a touching tribute to his sibling's time on the iconic game show. —Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Sep. 2025

Her droll yet touching quest for motherhood mirrors the messy compromises and silent struggles of human lives. —Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2025

Verb

Washing your hands in between might be worthwhile—touching the outer layers to peel, and then the inner sections can cause cross-contamination. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 30 Sep. 2025

Despite a relatively quiet lull in spicy antics from morning TV's sassiest couple, Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa engaged in a bit of light torso touching on the latest episode of Live With Kelly & Mark. —Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Sep. 2025