touchstone

Once a cultural touchstone, late-night television has seen its prominence erode greatly over the years with viewers and advertising dollars shifting away from broadcast TV to streaming.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026

“They make me feel less alone,” says Grace, and she and Susanna can both quote from Plath’s “The Bell Jar,” a cherished touchstone of every sensitive adolescent.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

As more Americans visited China in the following decades, “The Sound of Music” became a common cultural touchstone.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

The statement continued, “We are heartened and encouraged by the conversations we’ve had thus far, and we are committed to working together to ensure the continuation of this cultural touchstone that we all treasure.”

From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2023

Do certain events in our lives leave a permanent mark, freezing a piece of us in time, and that becomes a touchstone that we measure the rest of our lives against?

From "The Adoration of Jenna Fox" by Mary E. Pearson

CNN inexplicably settles for photos over video way too often and races through so many touchstones that the series often lacks sports context.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

The group’s atmospheric sound and heart-on-sleeve romanticism have become touchstones for a wide variety of acts, from tranquil dream-poppers to loud and demonstrative emo-punks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 2, 2026

And of course, Bad Bunny is hugely popular across the United States, which has among the largest Spanish-speaking populations globally -- so why wouldn't he take part in one of the country's cultural touchstones?

From Barron's ● Jan. 31, 2026

That context makes it clearer to understand why, four decades after it flopped in theaters, “Labyrinth” and Bowie’s work in it are now beloved cultural touchstones.

From Salon ● Jan. 24, 2026

They were the codes and touchstones of the world, capable of translation and possession.

From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison