TOUCHING Synonyms: 320 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'touching' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of touching are affecting , impressive , moving , pathetic , and poignant . While all these words mean "having the power to produce deep emotion," touching implies arousing tenderness or compassion. // the touching innocence in a child's eyes

Q: How are the words 'affecting' and 'moving' related as synonyms of 'touching'?

Affecting is close to moving but most often suggests pathos. // an affecting deathbed reunion

Q: When could 'impressive' be used to replace 'touching'?

While the synonyms impressive and touching are close in meaning, impressive implies compelling attention, admiration, wonder, or conviction. // an impressive list of achievements

Q: When might 'moving' be a better fit than 'touching'?

The words moving and touching can be used in similar contexts, but moving may apply to any strong emotional effect including thrilling, agitating, saddening, or calling forth pity or sympathy. // a moving appeal for contributions

Q: When can 'pathetic' be used instead of 'touching'?

The meanings of pathetic and touching largely overlap; however, pathetic implies moving to pity or sometimes contempt. // pathetic attempts to justify misconduct

Q: Where would 'poignant' be a reasonable alternative to 'touching'?

In some situations, the words poignant and touching are roughly equivalent. However, poignant applies to what keenly or sharply affects one's sensitivities. // a poignant documentary on the homeless

touching 1 of 3

adjective

ˈtə-chiŋ

Definition of touching

as in adjacent

having a border in common touching lots in the housing development will eventually be separated by hedges for privacy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in emotional

having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies a touching movie about two lost animals who try to find their way home

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

touching

2 of 3

preposition

as in regarding

having to do with there has been an objection touching the last of the proposed new bylaws

Synonyms & Similar Words

touching

3 of 3

verb

present participle of touch

as in feeling

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in affecting

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in marring

to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable unfortunately, his insufferable arrogance tends to touch even the good deeds that he does

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in adjoining

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in concerning

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word touching distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of touching are affecting, impressive, moving, pathetic, and poignant. While all these words mean "having the power to produce deep emotion," touching implies arousing tenderness or compassion.

the touching innocence in a child's eyes

How are the words affecting and moving related as synonyms of touching?

Affecting is close to moving but most often suggests pathos.

an affecting deathbed reunion

When could impressive be used to replace touching?

While the synonyms impressive and touching are close in meaning, impressive implies compelling attention, admiration, wonder, or conviction.

an impressive list of achievements

When might moving be a better fit than touching?

The words moving and touching can be used in similar contexts, but moving may apply to any strong emotional effect including thrilling, agitating, saddening, or calling forth pity or sympathy.

a moving appeal for contributions

When can pathetic be used instead of touching?

The meanings of pathetic and touching largely overlap; however, pathetic implies moving to pity or sometimes contempt.

pathetic attempts to justify misconduct

Where would poignant be a reasonable alternative to touching?

In some situations, the words poignant and touching are roughly equivalent. However, poignant applies to what keenly or sharply affects one's sensitivities.

a poignant documentary on the homeless

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 touching

Adjective

Danson was inducted — following a touching introduction from his wife — into the Hall of Fame alongside Sheila Nevins, Trey Parker, Ted Sarandos, Jean Smart and Matt Stone. — Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 22 Aug. 2026 Mizota found the results understandably uneven, but deeply touching and impactful. — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Verb

Compromises included leaving a 3-foot minimum turf perimeter and not touching the grass between the sidewalk and the street—but that still left plenty of room for a colorful, eco-friendly transformation. — Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 21 Aug. 2026 Houser served as their clipper ship, touching a career-best 98 mph with his fastball and extending a shutout into the eighth inning, and Dylan Smith converted a six-out save as the Giants held on for a 1-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for touching

Recent Examples of Synonyms for touching

Adjective

This has your typical upscale open-concept kitchen (lots of storage space, top-shelf appliances, and marble countertops), and the adjacent dining nook leads out to a private balcony.

— Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 31 Aug. 2026
Why do two different, mutually adjacent cities have the same name?

— Scott Spires, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of adjacent

Adjective

Rather than just a reproductive issue, endometriosis is a whole-body condition, affecting everything from emotional regulation to hormone production and gut health.

— Bella Webb, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
The song, famously written by Parton as an emotional farewell to her mentor Porter Wagoner and his show, topped the country chart in 1974.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of emotional

Preposition

Metro Police detectives are continuing to investigate the shooting, and are in contact with the District Attorney’s Office regarding charging decisions.

— Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 18 Oct. 2025
Was any decision made regarding reducing Partey’s media obligations?

— James McNicholas, New York Times, 11 July 2025

Definition of regarding

Verb

Mars in your sign challenges disciplined Saturn, creating the deeply irritating experience of feeling motivated and blocked at the same time.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026
People start feeling uncomfortable when the dew point creeps into the 60s, particularly the mid and upper 60s.

— Paris Barraza, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of feeling

Verb

To prevent a similar war from happening again, Menelaus scarred her face, permanently marring her famous beauty.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026
Lined with live oaks and old-fashioned, busy storefronts, this artsy town on the Gulf of Mexico has no commercial development marring its shoreline.

— Valerie Fraser Luesse, Southern Living, 16 June 2026

Definition of marring

Verb

Undeterred, the three friends bought the hotel and adjoining property for $3 million and have since spent over $10 million on renovations and redesign.

— Madeleine Kashkooli, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
The film could use a few more such colorful secondary strands adjoining the main conflict, though one subplot involving a maybe-romance between two jaded journalists assigned to the summit is oddly framed and abruptly dropped.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of adjoining

Verb

One of the fears concerning AI in fiction filmmaking is that the medium of cinema could lose the value of the empathic connection people have with other humans.

— Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026
More concerning memory problems may involve difficulty retaining new information in the first place, like repeatedly asking a question without remembering the answer.

— Danielle Zickl, HEALTH, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of concerning

Cite this Entry

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“Touching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touching. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of touching

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preposition

verb

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