touch 1 of 2

verb

ˈtəch How to pronounce touch (audio)
Definition of touchnext
1
as in to feel
to come into bodily contact with (something) so as to perceive a slight pressure on the skin be careful not to touch this pan—it's still hot

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2
as in to influence
to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response your speech on the true meaning of patriotism touched me deeply

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to taint
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable unfortunately, his insufferable arrogance tends to touch even the good deeds that he does

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to join
to be adjacent to our property touches theirs right where that big elm tree is

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5
as in to affect
to be the business or affair of I don't think this decision touches you, so butt out

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touch

2 of 2

noun

1
as in contact
the state or fact of being able to exchange information regarding one's current situation everyone promised to keep in touch over the summer

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2
as in splash
a very small amount added just a touch of parsley to the dish

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in feature
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind each designer has his or her own personal touches

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4
as in hint
an almost imperceptible sign of something a touch of irritation tinged his voice as the candidate fielded yet another question about his personal finances

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb touch differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of touch are affect, impress, influence, strike, and sway. While all these words mean "to produce or have an effect upon," touch may carry a vivid suggestion of close contact and may connote stirring, arousing, or harming.

plants touched by frost
his emotions were touched by her distress

When can affect be used instead of touch?

The words affect and touch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, affect implies the action of a stimulus that can produce a response or reaction.

the sight affected her to tears

Where would impress be a reasonable alternative to touch?

The meanings of impress and touch largely overlap; however, impress stresses the depth and persistence of the effect.

only one of the plans impressed him

When could influence be used to replace touch?

The synonyms influence and touch are sometimes interchangeable, but influence implies a force that brings about a change (as in nature or behavior).

our beliefs are influenced by our upbringing

When is strike a more appropriate choice than touch?

While in some cases nearly identical to touch, strike, similar to but weaker than impress, may convey the notion of sudden sharp perception or appreciation.

struck by the solemnity of the occasion

When is it sensible to use sway instead of touch?

Although the words sway and touch have much in common, sway implies the acting of influences that are not resisted or are irresistible, with resulting change in character or course of action.

politicians who are swayed by popular opinion

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 touch
Verb
When Luke tells him, meekly, not to touch Crystal, Max only wants to know who the young man is. — Jp Mangalindan, Time, 31 July 2026 Despite glowing reviews and fans begging for its release, a film industry dominated by political correctness refused to touch it. — William Earl, Variety, 30 July 2026
Noun
The replica white frieze that lines the roof of the upper decks is a nice touch, too, along with the gold leaf lettering on the outside. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 30 July 2026 In a statement Wednesday, police urged parents and guardians to have open conversations with their children about safe touch and inappropriate adult behavior. — Tim Fang, CBS News, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for touch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touch
  1. feel
  2. influence
  3. taint
  4. join
  5. affect
  6. contact
  7. splash
  8. feature
Verb
  • That perspective may be reassuring for parents who feel conflicted about screen time.
    — Tara Duncan, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • If the partner feels disconnected from the hotel brand, the benefit may add utility while weakening the program’s positioning.
    — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of feel
Verb
  • The lockup calendar A key event on Thursday could influence the stock’s near-term moves.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The solitude at the end of the world definitely influenced Shearwater’s sound, as this new record is among the most spare and reflective in Meiburg’s career.
    — David Harris, SPIN, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of influence
Verb
  • The political violence that tainted the Reconstruction and post-Reconstruction era clashes with traditional definitions of terrorism, which typically targets a power structure that such violence seeks to upend.
    — Jacob Ware, The Conversation, 31 July 2026
  • More than two dozen California Democrats are confronting the FCC over its rare early review of Disney’s ABC station licenses, calling the process ideologically tainted and aimed at punishing critical media coverage.
    — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of taint
Verb
  • Goodwood Revival joined the calendar in 1998 with wheel-to-wheel racing, while Members’ Meeting began a more exclusive program in 2014.
    — Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Council member Nancy Merrill, who supported the project as a private citizen before joining the council and voted in favor of the plan Tuesday, questioned why the proposal was rejected again.
    — Noah Daly August 1, Idaho Statesman, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of join
Verb
  • Almost 13,400 customers were affected at 11pm local time, according to a live map from US energy company Avista Utilities, which reported 25 active outages.
    — Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Those high aspirations, however, don’t appear to affect Proctor.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of affect
Noun
  • Kaseya cautioned that nearly 80% of new cases are not coming from contact tracing but instead from community spread.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • And if that happens, Smith could ride his above-average plate discipline and contact to around a league-average line, with a little speed and not much power.
    — Eno Sarris, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of contact
Noun
  • Designed to feel more like island residential living, all accommodations include a kitchen, in-unit washer and dryer, and private outdoor space set against a palette of deep earth tones and splashes of aqua blue.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The Philadelphia Phillies made one of the biggest splashes of the trade deadline by acquiring three-time batting champion Luis Arraez, a move designed to strengthen an offense that has struggled for consistency during stretches of the 2026 season.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of splash
Noun
  • The suede and mesh sneakers feature memory foam padding and anti-slip outsoles for a comfortable and supportive fit.
    — Isabel Bekele, InStyle, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The movie, a harrowing account of one family’s separation during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, earned Watts an Oscar nomination for best actress and marked Holland’s acting debut in a live-action feature film.
    — Zack Sharf, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of feature

Phrases Containing touch

Browse Nearby Words

tot (up)
touch
touchable
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Cite this Entry

“Touch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touch. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on touch

Nglish: Translation of touch for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about touch

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