TOUCHSTONE Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'touchstone' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of touchstone are criterion , gauge , standard , and yardstick . While all these words mean "a means of determining what a thing should be," touchstone suggests a simple test of the authenticity or value of something intangible. // fine service is one touchstone of a first-class restaurant

Q: When could 'criterion' be used to replace 'touchstone'?

The words criterion and touchstone can be used in similar contexts, but criterion may apply to anything used as a test of quality whether formulated as a rule or principle or not. // questioned the critic's criteria for excellence

Q: Where would 'gauge' be a reasonable alternative to 'touchstone'?

Although the words gauge and touchstone have much in common, gauge applies to a means of testing a particular dimension (such as thickness, depth, diameter) or figuratively a particular quality or aspect. // polls as a gauge of voter dissatisfaction

Q: When can 'standard' be used instead of 'touchstone'?

While the synonyms standard and touchstone are close in meaning, standard applies to any definite rule, principle, or measure established by authority. // standards of behavior

Q: How do 'yardstick' and 'criterion' relate to one another, in the sense of 'touchstone'?

Yardstick is an informal substitute for criterion that suggests quantity more often than quality. // housing construction as a yardstick of economic growth

touchstone

noun

ˈtəch-ˌstōn

Definition of touchstone

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

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How does the noun touchstone contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of touchstone are criterion, gauge, standard, and yardstick. While all these words mean "a means of determining what a thing should be," touchstone suggests a simple test of the authenticity or value of something intangible.

fine service is one touchstone of a first-class restaurant

When could criterion be used to replace touchstone?

The words criterion and touchstone can be used in similar contexts, but criterion may apply to anything used as a test of quality whether formulated as a rule or principle or not.

questioned the critic's criteria for excellence

Where would gauge be a reasonable alternative to touchstone?

Although the words gauge and touchstone have much in common, gauge applies to a means of testing a particular dimension (such as thickness, depth, diameter) or figuratively a particular quality or aspect.

polls as a gauge of voter dissatisfaction

When can standard be used instead of touchstone?

While the synonyms standard and touchstone are close in meaning, standard applies to any definite rule, principle, or measure established by authority.

standards of behavior

How do yardstick and criterion relate to one another, in the sense of touchstone?

Yardstick is an informal substitute for criterion that suggests quantity more often than quality.

housing construction as a yardstick of economic growth

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 Another touchstone Jones wants to tackle head-on is AI, the hot button topic of the day. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026 Paulson’s dress incorporated a few of the touchstones of dark glamour, from its dramatic silhouette to the monochrome palette. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026 Hoffs is genuinely surprised to hear that the Bangles remain a touchstone for how modern pop sounds. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026 Her Easter Sunday performance at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939 in front of 75,000 spectators remains a touchstone of defiance in an age of racial violence. — Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for touchstone

Recent Examples of Synonyms for touchstone

Noun

That policy needs to evaluate prospective patients against criteria such as the patient’s needs and the agency’s ability to provide services, in relation to the current caseload, average case mix intensity, staffing and competence of staff.

— Colin Conner II, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Studies have estimated that anywhere between 25% and 35% of the patient population would meet the current clinical criteria for gene therapy.

— Steven Ross Johnson, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of criterion

Noun

OpenAI took months to discover the incident and notify the Australian agencies affected — that’s unacceptable by my standard.

— Rumman Chowdhury, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2026
Airport officials said the new design also increases the distance between the terminal and the nearest runway, formerly as little as 257 feet, to about 880 feet — a change that brings the airport into compliance with FAA standards.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of standard

Noun

The commercial benchmark, by comparison, showed continuous performance decay during testing.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
In human medicine, research cites a benchmark of 10,000 steps per day as a threshold that, when combined with healthy nutrition, supports weight loss.

— Will Boyd, Baltimore Sun, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of benchmark

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“Touchstone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touchstone. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of touchstone

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