as in standards
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 touchstones
Schreifels has cited early hardcore touchstones and their ethos of self-determination as a guiding force this time around, echoing the spirit of his own hugely influential adjacent bands Youth of Today and Gorilla Biscuits.
—
Spin Staff, SPIN, 23 Apr. 2026
The touchstones for the album’s softer material, Kaye says, include Townes Van Zandt, Eric Andersen, Kevin Kinney of Drivin’ N Cryin’, and Alejandro Escovedo.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2026
Although Purdue produced only a fraction of the opioid pills that flooded the market in the 2000s, advocates have long seen aggressive sales of OxyContin as one of the touchstones of the crisis.
—Geoff Mulvihill, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
While Purdue produced only a fraction of the opioid pills that flooded the market in the 2000s, advocates have long seen aggressive sales of OxyContin as one of the touchstones of the crisis.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
The Manchester trio’s latest album proposes a heady, rhythmic strain of post-punk that references familiar touchstones while sounding genuinely, deliriously disorienting.
—Shaad D’souza, Pitchfork, 20 Apr. 2026
These are not lazy callbacks, but shared touchstones — part of a pop cultural language the film embedded into our collective consciousness, and that the show both celebrates and lovingly skewers.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
The brand’s mission is to make golf more inclusive by mixing cultural touchstones with golf and lowering the entry barrier to the sport.
—Ryan Brennan
april 7, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
Spin Staff, SPIN, 23 Apr. 2026
The touchstones for the album’s softer material, Kaye says, include Townes Van Zandt, Eric Andersen, Kevin Kinney of Drivin’ N Cryin’, and Alejandro Escovedo.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2026
Although Purdue produced only a fraction of the opioid pills that flooded the market in the 2000s, advocates have long seen aggressive sales of OxyContin as one of the touchstones of the crisis.
—Geoff Mulvihill, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
While Purdue produced only a fraction of the opioid pills that flooded the market in the 2000s, advocates have long seen aggressive sales of OxyContin as one of the touchstones of the crisis.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
The Manchester trio’s latest album proposes a heady, rhythmic strain of post-punk that references familiar touchstones while sounding genuinely, deliriously disorienting.
—Shaad D’souza, Pitchfork, 20 Apr. 2026
These are not lazy callbacks, but shared touchstones — part of a pop cultural language the film embedded into our collective consciousness, and that the show both celebrates and lovingly skewers.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
The brand’s mission is to make golf more inclusive by mixing cultural touchstones with golf and lowering the entry barrier to the sport.
—Ryan Brennan
april 7, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touchstones
Noun
-
Some models feature replaceable blades, like the Milk Street Kitchen Precision peeler, which retails for $30, but by peeler standards that’s high.—
Jennifer Zyman,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Accessibility The hotel is fully compliant with ADA standards, and has five accessible Deluxe rooms designed to accommodate guests with limited mobility and disabilities.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In a flurry of activity beginning on March 8, 2025, Purdue filed documents that show lines crossing out the eligibility criteria and victim compensation amounts, with no explanation or substitute language.—
Craig R. McCoy,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
-
That major hedge is new, and seriously waters down the importance of these two existing constitutional criteria.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The figure is more than 6,000 times higher than the country’s computing power as reflected in the Top500 list, one of the few available benchmarks for comparing China’s supercomputing progress with other countries, especially the United States, according to the SCMP.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Hawaii is one of six states that meet all the institute’s benchmarks.—
Moriah Balingit,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Touchstones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touchstones. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
