touchy

touchy

adjective \ˈtə-chē\

touch·i·ertouch·i·est

Definition of TOUCHY

1

: marked by readiness to take offense on slight provocation <he's a little touchy about his past>

2

a of a body part : acutely sensitive or irritable

b of a chemical : highly explosive or inflammable

3

: calling for tact, care, or caution in treatment <a touchy subject>

— touch·i·ly \ˈtə-chə-lē\ adverb

— touch·i·ness \ˈtə-chē-nəs\ noun

Examples of TOUCHY

1. Don't be so touchy. I was just kidding.
2. <watch what you say around him, as he's very touchy about every little thing>

First Known Use of TOUCHY

1605

Related to TOUCHY

Synonyms

huffy, tetchy, thin-skinned, ticklish

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

Rhymes with TOUCHY

duchy, smutchy