TOUCHES Synonyms: 393 Similar and Opposite Words

touches 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of touch

as in feels

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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as in affects

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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as in taints

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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as in joins

to be adjacent to our property touches theirs right where that big elm tree is

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as in concerns

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

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touches

2 of 2

noun

plural of touch

as in splashes

a very small amount added just a touch of parsley to the dish

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as in features

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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as in hints

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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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 touches

Verb

The feeling of safety as my hand touches the doorknob and the house is unlocked. — Alex Jovanovich, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026 Images coming from social media show the crisis touches almost every aspect of life in Cuba. — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026 Anything that touches an order, a shipment or a customer commitment, a person signs off. — Sj Studio, Footwear News, 31 Aug. 2026 That somewhere else is the compliance department of every bank, insurer and treasury ministry that still touches Iranian money. — Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Administration officials say that’s the right approach for a technology that touches so many different industries. — Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 The docuseries briefly touches on questions surrounding the 2021 death of Skinner’s previous husband, Chris, as well as the timeline of her relationship with John-Paul. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Aug. 2026 According to health officials, exposure to rabies can also happen when a person touches a bat's saliva or brain tissue or wakes up with one in their bedroom. — Nicholas Lentz, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 However, giving it to someone else can lead to germs being transferred, especially with makeup that touches the lips or eyes. — Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026

Noun

While some of the color contrasts do articulate planar shifts, such as the candy-stripe lips (red for upper, pink for lower), many of the touches are arbitrary splotches that neither bolster a shape nor set another off. — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 The vocalist and Orlando band After 5 perform original R&B and neo-soul with touches of jazz. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026 But this time, Brinkley decked them out with fun, autumnal touches for the transitional season. — Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026 Little touches abound, including a turn-down service that comes with a new treat each night; spa treatments are plentiful and expert. — Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026 The touches of blues, soul, folk, and Americana that shaped the group’s sound are still there. — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2026 The decor is heavily inspired by various forms of Mexican art, including La Huasteca embroidery, which focuses on bright floral and geometric patterns, as well as touches of gold accents inspired by Mayan culture. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026 The film carries a psychosexual undertone and touches on depression, identity and faith. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026 The 6-foot, 220-pound North Carolina product gained 737 yards from scrimmage and had five touchdowns in 156 touches — 124 rushes and 32 receptions. — Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for touches

Verb

Still, there’s something about going back to basics at the dawn of a new season that feels especially right.

— Laura Jackson, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
Wear it with leggings for a travel outfit that feels a little more elevated than wearing a sweatsuit.

— Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of feels

Verb

An incident that for others might be fatal—a free fall from a high bridge—affects the coyote for only a brief moment.

— Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
On taxation, only about a third of clients understand how other income affects the taxability of their Social Security check, and nearly half are blindsided to learn that Medicare premiums can quietly shrink their monthly payment.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of affects

Verb

Siân Brooke joins a returning cast that also includes Adrian Lester, Alex Jennings and Danny Sapani.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
The 12-episode series – produced by Studio Dragon and released as a TVING original on CJ ENM‘s Korean streaming platform – follows Kang Seong-jae, played by Park Ji-hoon, a young man who joins the military to escape a difficult reality.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of joins

Verb

The issue, also affecting manufacturers like Xiaomi and Xpeng, concerns unsafe emergency door-release systems.

— Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
However, as someone who has been studying Antarctic krill ecology and their role in the Southern Ocean ecosystem for 16 years, what currently concerns me most is how locally concentrated that harvest has become.

— Kim S. Bernard, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of concerns

Noun

Built in a distinctively analog way, the rooms create the illusion of endless space through the use of light, mirrors and splashes of color.

— Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
The company has built a reputation in the investment world for backing companies that have made big splashes, including Uber, Waymo and Discord.

— Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of splashes

Noun

Chinese engineers are widely seen as among the best in the world, making advanced efforts to incorporate mitigation features and surveillance.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Meta and YouTube lost in a social media addiction trial in Los Angeles earlier this year, which was brought by a plaintiff who claimed her mental health was damaged by addictive features like autoplay and infinite scrolling.

— Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of features

Noun

The cuisine was also noteworthy, a generous choice of cocktails, wines, and cuisine with hints of contemporary English inspiration, while avoiding being British stodgy.

— Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026
Warsh is unlikely to reveal his approach before the task forces report but at Jackson Hole the whole world will be looking for hints regarding his plans to reshape the Fed.

— Paul Wachtel, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026