I. touch ‧ ing 1 /ˈtʌtʃɪŋ/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ touched , ↑ untouched , ↑ touching , ↑ touchy , ↑ untouchable ; noun : ↑ touch , ↑ untouchable ; verb : ↑ touch ; adverb : ↑ touchingly ]
making you feel pity, sympathy, sadness etc:
a touching reunion of father and son
—touchingly adverb
⇨ ↑ touch 1 (4)
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THESAURUS
■ causing strong feelings
▪ emotional causing people to have strong feelings – used especially about experiences, speeches, or subjects that people have strong feelings about:
Returning home after a year in hospital was an emotional experience for Katy.
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He gave an emotional speech at the funeral.
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It was a very emotional moment.
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Abortion rights is a highly emotional issue.
▪ emotive used about issues or language that make people have strong feelings:
Fox hunting is a very emotive issue in Britain.
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‘Indoctrination’ is rather an emotive word.
▪ moving making you feel strong feelings of sadness or sympathy:
Kelly’s book about her illness is deeply moving.
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a moving film
▪ touching making you feel slightly emotional – used especially when someone does something that shows how much they care about another person:
Your loyalty is very touching.
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My son phoned me to wish me good luck, which was a touching gesture.
▪ poignant making you feel strong feelings of sadness or pity, especially when you remember something in the past:
Her youthful expression is a poignant reminder of the passing of time.
▪ sentimental ( also schmaltzy ) informal dealing with emotions such as love and sadness in a way that seems silly:
He found the film too sentimental.
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a schmaltzy comedy
II. touching 2 BrE AmE preposition formal
concerning:
matters touching the conduct of diplomacy