touchy
apt to take offense on slight provocation; irritable: He is very touchy when he's sick.
requiring caution, tactfulness, or expert handling; precarious; risky: a touchy subject; a touchy situation.
sensitive to touch.
easily ignited, as tinder.
Origin of touchy
1synonym study For touchy
Other words for touchy
Other words from touchy
- touch·i·ly, adverb
- touch·i·ness, noun
Words Nearby touchy
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use touchy in a sentence
If the judge allows the bankruptcy filing to proceed, he will then weigh other touchy questions, including a request from a dissenting NRA board member who has asked the judge to appoint an independent examiner to review the organization’s finances.
NRA faces internal woes as it girds for new gun control fight | Tom Hamburger | March 26, 2021 | Washington PostAlas, some of the creature comforts are almost too high tech, like the touchy steering-wheel audio controls and numerous options for accessing and updating channels and presets.
This one topic, however, seems to be especially touchy for him, and I'm truly at a loss on how to broach it.
Carolyn Hax: How to improve on ‘I cook, you clean’ without stirring the pot | Carolyn Hax | February 12, 2021 | Washington PostNow you’re thinking that maybe you’re no longer attractive enough, which is sort of his thought about himself, and you’re touchy.
The international negotiations are often touchy, time consuming and incremental.
The U.S. will leave the Paris climate accord on Nov. 4. But voters will decide for how long. | Steven Mufson, Brady Dennis | October 30, 2020 | Washington Post
There are plenty of touchy subjects I am happy to discuss with my patients and their families.
And second, movies are a particularly touchy subject for the Hermit Kingdom.
Is ‘The Interview’ About to Launch a Nuclear Sequel War? | Kevin Bleyer | June 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTNobody else was as forthright with me about this touchy topic.
The question of military service is a touchier issue—but is it touchy enough to break up the band?
But could sharp elbows and a touchy personality knock out this frontrunner too?
For goodness' sake, don't take to gettin' touchy like some people are!
Patchwork | Anna Balmer MyersNo small stint I had of it too; for he was peevish and touchy as a young badger.
Left on Labrador | Charles Asbury StephensYet the intrinsic quality of the event moved his touchy sensitiveness less than its conjectured effect upon the minds of others.
Tess of the d'Urbervilles | Thomas HardyWe been hearing down at the camp you were so mighty touchy you didn't allow a man within a rod of the line.
Freckles | Gene Stratton-PorterThe boney finger moved inward from the trigger guard and closed ever so gently about the touchy, hair-filed trigger—then waited.
The Escape of Mr. Trimm | Irvin S. Cobb
British Dictionary definitions for touchy
/ (ˈtʌtʃɪ) /
easily upset or irritated; oversensitive
extremely risky
easily ignited
Derived forms of touchy
- touchily, adverb
- touchiness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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