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
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Recent Examples of touchstones
Paramount+ will bring global fans over 1,000 hours of iconic series, films, originals and cultural touchstones that reflect the full spectrum of the Black experience, including hits like THE MS.
—
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
Novels, manga, music, and fanfiction are referenced throughout the memoir as touchstones in Kobabe’s search for understanding and community.
—Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
That passion echoes throughout the halls, a chorus of cultural touchstones.
—Adam Reiss, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026
That trajectory — from a small London stage to one of the most recognizable cultural touchstones in entertainment — speaks to the show’s enduring ability to connect with audiences who feel like outsiders themselves.
—Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
There are certain touchstones of life that demand a respectful response.
—Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
The halftime show, even the commercials, offer major cultural touchstones.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
Rosanna Arquette is known for a lot of things, including being the eldest sibling in the famous Arquette family of actors, as well as for her roles in pop culture touchstones like 1985’s Desperately Seeking Susan and 1994’s Pulp Fiction.
—Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Its touchstones appeared to be recently booming phenomena including country music, TikTok tradwives, and mixed martial arts.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
Novels, manga, music, and fanfiction are referenced throughout the memoir as touchstones in Kobabe’s search for understanding and community.
—Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
That passion echoes throughout the halls, a chorus of cultural touchstones.
—Adam Reiss, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026
That trajectory — from a small London stage to one of the most recognizable cultural touchstones in entertainment — speaks to the show’s enduring ability to connect with audiences who feel like outsiders themselves.
—Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
There are certain touchstones of life that demand a respectful response.
—Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
The halftime show, even the commercials, offer major cultural touchstones.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
Rosanna Arquette is known for a lot of things, including being the eldest sibling in the famous Arquette family of actors, as well as for her roles in pop culture touchstones like 1985’s Desperately Seeking Susan and 1994’s Pulp Fiction.
—Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Its touchstones appeared to be recently booming phenomena including country music, TikTok tradwives, and mixed martial arts.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touchstones
Noun
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Each year, the United Nations puts together a list of the happiest countries in the world, comparing a wide variety of criteria, from average incomes and healthcare standards to levels of generosity and the absence of corruption.—
Olivia Morelli,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 Mar. 2026
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They are regulated by CMS and overseen by the Health Resources and Services Administration, but that oversight occurs primarily through certification standards, performance metrics, and periodic audits rather than routine public disclosure requirements.—
Dr. Céline Gounder,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Last month, the Vatican bank announced two equity benchmarks that conform to ethical Catholic criteria and are aimed at serving as a reference for Catholic investments globally.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
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What to look for in a hand mixer After testing 11 models, these are the criteria that actually separated the good mixers from the frustrating ones.—
Mark Marino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The executive explained that the benchmarks required to verify code simply haven’t caught up yet, which means companies leveraging AI may be flying by the seat of their pants by using AI to verify AI code, a potentially dangerous feedback loop.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
19 Mar. 2026
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Race against human limits Recent developments highlight how close robots are getting to elite athletic benchmarks.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Touchstones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touchstones. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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