as in criterion
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 touchstone
Beyond music, her work in television and film, from her iconic role on Moesha to her historic turn as the first Black Cinderella, cemented her status as a cultural touchstone whose reach extends far beyond the studio.
—
Mecca Pryor, Essence, 29 Dec. 2025
Its collection ranges from classic cars and early aviation to industrial machinery and pop-culture touchstones like the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Dec. 2025
From the beginning, Stranger Things has relied on ’80s pop-culture touchstones, drawing heavily on the elements and aesthetics of Steven Spielberg’s blockbusters and Stephen King’s best sellers.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 26 Dec. 2025
The orchestral ballads on The Bends and XO are particular touchstones, but his music can also bring to mind Rufus Wainwright or even the quieter side of Queen.
—Hannah Jocelyn, Pitchfork, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for touchstone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touchstone
Noun
-
However, it was later determined that the case did not meet authorities' acceptance criteria at the time.—
-
Prosecutors said last weekend that the legal criteria to detain the bar's owners had so far not been met.—
Noun
-
An example of a standard in summer is a sherbert series featuring lactose and vanilla.—
-
Recent data showed that police response is becoming faster, but still lags behind California standards.—
Noun
-
Its benchmark report notes that even state-of-the-art tools can describe the right formula in words while misapplying it step by step.—
-
And because the world has more oil supply than demand, global crude prices are quite low; the global benchmark is a little over $60 per barrel.—
Cite this Entry
“Touchstone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touchstone. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share