touchier; touchiest
1
: marked by readiness to take offense on slight provocation
he's a little touchy about his past
2
: calling for tact, care, or caution in treatment
a touchy subject
3
a
of a body part
: acutely sensitive or irritable
b
of a chemical
: highly explosive or inflammable
Examples of touchy in a Sentence
Don't be so touchy. I was just kidding.
watch what you say around him, as he's very touchy about every little thing
Recent Examples on the Web
It’s also oddly bifurcated into two noticeably chunks, with the first half focusing on Hank and Yvonne’s tender but touchy, highly tectchy relationship and the second half leaning into the gonzo forward momentum of a get-the-dough crime flick.
—
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
After Caroline's statement, a Kennedy family insider told PEOPLE that there's always been a touchy dynamic between JFK's daughter and the many children of RFK, noting that Caroline's attack merely brought the tension to the surface.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Media companies are all experimenting with AI, but the practice is extremely touchy in the talent community and with unions.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 8 Aug. 2025
Diane Gottsman, national etiquette expert and founder of The Protocol School of Texas, has thoughts—and even a personal take—on this touchy subject.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for touchy
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
After Caroline's statement, a Kennedy family insider told PEOPLE that there's always been a touchy dynamic between JFK's daughter and the many children of RFK, noting that Caroline's attack merely brought the tension to the surface.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Media companies are all experimenting with AI, but the practice is extremely touchy in the talent community and with unions.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 8 Aug. 2025
Diane Gottsman, national etiquette expert and founder of The Protocol School of Texas, has thoughts—and even a personal take—on this touchy subject.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for touchy
Cite this Entry
“Touchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/touchy. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
touchy
adjective
touchier; touchiest
1
: easily hurt or insulted
2
: calling for tact or careful handling
a touchy subject
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share