tetchy

Or tech·y

[tech-ee]

adjective

tetchier, tetchiest 

1. irritable; touchy.

tetchy

/ ˈtɛtʃɪ /

adjective

1. being or inclined to be cross, irritable, or touchy

Other Word Forms

• tetchily adverb
• tetchiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tetchy¹

1585–95; origin uncertain; tetched, -y ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of tetchy¹

C16: probably from obsolete tetch defect, from Old French tache spot, of Germanic origin

Example Sentences

The tetchy chat, Harry writes, ended with an intervention from his father.

Read more on BBC

England were taken to a tetchy victory at Lord's by the Herculean efforts of Stokes, then denied by India's gritty resistance at Old Trafford.

Read more on BBC

Duckett's dismissal, attempting another reverse at Deep, began India's resurgence and sparked more exchanges between the two teams in what has been a tetchy series.

Read more on BBC

Gill was prolific across the first two Tests, then lost his way in the tetchy third at Lord's.

Read more on BBC

Head coach Brendon McCullum told England they were "too nice" before the tetchy third Test against India, according to batter Harry Brook.

Read more on BBC