ticklish
Americanadjective
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sensitive to tickling.
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requiring careful or delicate handling or action; difficult or risky; dicey.
a ticklish situation.
-
extremely sensitive; touchy.
He is ticklish about being interrupted.
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unstable or easily upset, as a boat; unsteady.
adjective
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susceptible and sensitive to being tickled
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delicate or difficult
a ticklish situation
-
easily upset or offended
Other Word Forms
- ticklishly adverb
- ticklishness noun
Etymology
Origin of ticklish
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It was simple if ticklish work, and Penelope mastered it quickly.
From Literature
The dignity of Beowulf’s bow was marred by the appearance of Shantaloo, who had emerged from the shadows and now rubbed against his leg in a ticklish fashion.
From Literature
How England get him to that point is ticklish.
From BBC
If he can’t bowl at all, then England have the ticklish decision of whether to drop a batter or bowler.
From BBC
The decision on how to handle Anderson is ticklish for England.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
