When we talk about "touching a nerve ending," we often mean that something has triggered a strong emotional response or hit close to home. There are a number of synonyms that can be used to express this idea, including phrases like "hits a raw nerve," "strikes a chord," "resonates deeply," or "cuts to the core." Other options might include "stirs up emotions," "evokes strong feelings," "pushes buttons," or "gets under one's skin." Whatever the phrasing, the idea is the same - when something touches a nerve ending, it has a profound impact on us and can cause a strong reaction.