ticklish

tick·lish

adjective \ˈti-k(ə-)lish\

Definition of TICKLISH

1

a : touchy, oversensitive <ticklish about his baldness>

b : easily overturned <a canoe is a ticklish craft>

2

: requiring delicate handling <a ticklish subject>

3

: sensitive to tickling

— tick·lish·ly adverb

— tick·lish·ness noun

Examples of TICKLISH

1. My feet are very ticklish.
2. <he's ticklish about his looks, so it's wisest to avoid the subject altogether>

First Known Use of TICKLISH

1581

Related to TICKLISH

Synonyms

huffy, tetchy, thin-skinned, touchy

Antonyms

thick-skinned

Related Words

hypersensitive, oversensitive, sensitive, supersensitive, tender; choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, cross-grained, crotchety, grouchy, grumpy, irascible, irritable, peevish, perverse, pettish, petulant, prickly, quick-tempered, raspy, ratty, short-tempered, snappish, snappy, snarky, snippety, snippy, stroppy [British], stuffy, testy, waspish; bearish, bilious, cantankerous, curmudgeonly, disagreeable, dyspeptic, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, ornery, querulous, surly

Near Antonyms

agreeable, amiable, good-natured, good-tempered, well-disposed; carefree, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, relaxed, unconcerned; forbearing, long-suffering, obliging, understanding