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
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
There’s a sweetness to the comfort of childhood touchstones and shared history in a world gone psychotic with death and destruction.
—Katie Walsh, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026
Now, one of those pictures hangs from Holly’s rearview mirror in her car, one of many touchstones.
—Megan Rose, ProPublica, 16 Jan. 2026
There’s a sweetness to the comfort of childhood touchstones and shared history in a world gone psychotic with death and destruction.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 15 Jan. 2026
Their endless touring included cultural touchstones like Woodstock, and perhaps their largest concert on their own in front of over 100,000 spectators in Englishtown, New Jersey in 1977.
—Adam Levine, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
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
There’s a sweetness to the comfort of childhood touchstones and shared history in a world gone psychotic with death and destruction.
—Katie Walsh, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026
Now, one of those pictures hangs from Holly’s rearview mirror in her car, one of many touchstones.
—Megan Rose, ProPublica, 16 Jan. 2026
There’s a sweetness to the comfort of childhood touchstones and shared history in a world gone psychotic with death and destruction.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 15 Jan. 2026
Their endless touring included cultural touchstones like Woodstock, and perhaps their largest concert on their own in front of over 100,000 spectators in Englishtown, New Jersey in 1977.
—Adam Levine, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touchstones
Noun
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The Department of Homeland Security has said that the facilities meet federal detention standards and undergo regular audits and inspections.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
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Both the Times of London and the Daily Telegraph reviewed Newman’s book poorly, with an air of anti-woke ennui, accusing her of imposing contemporary moral standards on the vices of the past.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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These are the criteria USA TODAY Network journalists considered while curating our annual Restaurants of the Year list, a selection of dining spots across the country.—
Michael McCarter,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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Nationwide, more than 46 million people met the criteria for a substance abuse disorder as of 2021, the most recent data available.—
Emma Fenske,
The Conversation,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Other benchmarks were reduced, which could cause different problems, Worrell said.—
Camila Gomez,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 Feb. 2026
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When voter registration statistics appear to exceed plausible eligible-population benchmarks, public confidence erodes, even if there is an administrative explanation.—
Reardon Sullivan,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Touchstones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touchstones. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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