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touchstone

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of touchstone

something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared

  • his book has long been a touchstone for travel writing that aspires to be literature
Synonyms of touchstone

bar, barometer, benchmark, criterion, gold standard, grade, mark, measure, metric, par, standard, yardstick
Words Related to touchstone

case, example, instance

average, norm, rule

acme, apex, meridian, peak, pinnacle, summit, zenith
Near Antonyms of touchstone

aberration, abnormality, deviation

Synonym Discussion of touchstone

standard, criterion, gauge, yardstick, touchstone mean a means of determining what a thing should be. standard applies to any definite rule, principle, or measure established by authority.
    • standards of behavior
criterion may apply to anything used as a test of quality whether formulated as a rule or principle or not.
    • questioned the critic's criteria for excellence
gauge applies to a means of testing a particular dimension (such as thickness, depth, diameter) or figuratively a particular quality or aspect.
    • polls as a gauge of voter dissatisfaction
yardstick is an informal substitute for criterion that suggests quantity more often than quality.
    • housing construction as a yardstick of economic growth
touchstone suggests a simple test of the authenticity or value of something intangible.
    • fine service is one touchstone of a first-class restaurant

Learn More about touchstone

  1. See words that rhyme with touchstone Dictionary: Definition of touchstone Spanish Central: Translation of touchstone Nglish: Translation of touchstone for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about touchstone

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