touchstone

as in criterion
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 & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun touchstone contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of touchstone are criterion, gauge, standard, and yardstick. While all these words mean "a means of determining what a thing should be," touchstone suggests a simple test of the authenticity or value of something intangible.

fine service is one touchstone of a first-class restaurant

When could criterion be used to replace touchstone?

The words criterion and touchstone can be used in similar contexts, but 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

Where would gauge be a reasonable alternative to touchstone?

Although the words gauge and touchstone have much in common, 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

When can standard be used instead of touchstone?

While the synonyms standard and touchstone are close in meaning, standard applies to any definite rule, principle, or measure established by authority.

standards of behavior

How do yardstick and criterion relate to one another, in the sense of touchstone?

Yardstick is an informal substitute for criterion that suggests quantity more often than quality.

housing construction as a yardstick of economic growth

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 touchstone The timeline is assembled in such a way that emotional touchstones can sometimes feel manipulative, considering how ruthlessly unsentimental Bobo’s narration sounds. Peter Debruge, Variety, 23 Aug. 2025 In between questions about Nineties cultural touchstones like Friends, Space Jam, Beavis and Butthead, the Spice Girls, and Sir-Mix-A-Lot — during which Kravitz racks up a lot of points and Butler downs a lot of shots — the pair also discusses working on Caught Stealing. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2025 If the majors are the real deal, the true touchstone for a great season, then the three titles so far won’t be of much comfort. Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025 What began as an unprecedented attempt to accommodate the Fab Four’s overwhelming popularity has evolved into a touchstone of pop culture—the modern stadium tour. Lindsay A. Fleming, Time, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for touchstone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touchstone
Noun
  • What was the selection criteria?
    Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Bondi, 59, intervened in a number of cases to alter the criteria for granting asylum in her role as the head of the immigration-court system, The Wall Street Journal reported.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Twentty was founded to challenge that standard.
    Maria Williams, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Act 237 of 2023, known as the LEARNS Act, mandated that the Education Department update its requirements for third grade promotion, with the 2025-26 school year being the first in which students must meet that standard.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But surveys have also shown many reservists are unhappy with the cabinet's plans, some openly accusing the government of lacking a cohesive strategy, a post-war plan for Gaza or a clear benchmark for victory.
    Emily Rose, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
  • OpenAI also says there is a 45 percent to 65 percent reduction in factual errors over GPT-4, depending on the setting, as well as substantial gains in handling medical and coding tasks on industry-standard benchmarks.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Touchstone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touchstone. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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