as in standards
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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Recent Examples of touchstones
Gimme some of the specific touchstones.
—
Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Poem 1 carries forth Roxanne’s touchstones—choral music, new age, dream pop—into a liminal space that’s half-lieder, half-Grouper.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 23 Mar. 2026
The 70-minute film plays more like a visual scrapbook, weaving archival footage of their ’90s heyday with the pop-culture touchstones that shaped him.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
As Bob Iger works his way through his final day in Disney’s corner office, the outgoing CEO will leave behind a legacy that includes such pop culture touchstones as the Star Wars saga, the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the transformative Pixar films.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Paramount+ will bring global fans over 1,000 hours of iconic series, films, originals and cultural touchstones that reflect the full spectrum of the Black experience, including hits like THE MS.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
Novels, manga, music, and fanfiction are referenced throughout the memoir as touchstones in Kobabe’s search for understanding and community.
—Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
That passion echoes throughout the halls, a chorus of cultural touchstones.
—Adam Reiss, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026
That trajectory — from a small London stage to one of the most recognizable cultural touchstones in entertainment — speaks to the show’s enduring ability to connect with audiences who feel like outsiders themselves.
—Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Poem 1 carries forth Roxanne’s touchstones—choral music, new age, dream pop—into a liminal space that’s half-lieder, half-Grouper.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 23 Mar. 2026
The 70-minute film plays more like a visual scrapbook, weaving archival footage of their ’90s heyday with the pop-culture touchstones that shaped him.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
As Bob Iger works his way through his final day in Disney’s corner office, the outgoing CEO will leave behind a legacy that includes such pop culture touchstones as the Star Wars saga, the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the transformative Pixar films.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Paramount+ will bring global fans over 1,000 hours of iconic series, films, originals and cultural touchstones that reflect the full spectrum of the Black experience, including hits like THE MS.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
Novels, manga, music, and fanfiction are referenced throughout the memoir as touchstones in Kobabe’s search for understanding and community.
—Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
That passion echoes throughout the halls, a chorus of cultural touchstones.
—Adam Reiss, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026
That trajectory — from a small London stage to one of the most recognizable cultural touchstones in entertainment — speaks to the show’s enduring ability to connect with audiences who feel like outsiders themselves.
—Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touchstones
Noun
-
Consumer advocates said the findings support SB 1076, a bill that would require insurers to offer coverage to homeowners who meet state fire safety standards.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
In response, rental companies are implementing stricter cleaning standards, higher security deposits, and more surveillance.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The district must meet specific exit criteria before local control is restored.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Mar. 2026
-
That involves patients themselves taking a lethal drink or medication that has been prescribed by a doctor to patients who meet certain criteria.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Shortly after his 19-minute speech, Asian markets reversed earlier gains from Thursday's session, as benchmarks in Australia, Japan and South Korea fell.—
Lim Hui Jie,Anniek Bao,Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
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European dealmakers outperformed their regional benchmarks and were among the strongest performers globally during the first quarter of 2026.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Touchstones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touchstones. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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