as in irritable
easily offended
a morose and tetchy resident of a nursing home
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tetchy
Hallmarks of the best Halloween travel destinations usually entail a moody fall landscape, local legends that involve a tetchy ghost, vampire, or other variety of ominous being, and themed activities like pumpkin patches and cemetery tours.
—
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2025
Reynolds is a tetchy tyrant, who, enabled by his sister, Cyril (Lesley Manville), has embraced a need to have things just so as a means of warding off vulnerability.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Or the public’s general distaste for being confronted with tetchy societal issues will still prevail; doom-scrolling should be done on one’s phone at home, not out in the world among other people.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
The venerable brand has, for well over a century, been a producer of debonair, distinctly British, sport/luxury cars, known mainly for startling good looks and an attitude that is more sophisticated and less tetchy than its Italian rivals.
—Brett Berk, Robb Report, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tetchy
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2025
Reynolds is a tetchy tyrant, who, enabled by his sister, Cyril (Lesley Manville), has embraced a need to have things just so as a means of warding off vulnerability.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Or the public’s general distaste for being confronted with tetchy societal issues will still prevail; doom-scrolling should be done on one’s phone at home, not out in the world among other people.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
The venerable brand has, for well over a century, been a producer of debonair, distinctly British, sport/luxury cars, known mainly for startling good looks and an attitude that is more sophisticated and less tetchy than its Italian rivals.
—Brett Berk, Robb Report, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tetchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tetchy
Adjective
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They can be withdrawn or irritable.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
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While Hockney worked, Auden, as the artist recalled, played the part of the impatient, irritable grump.—
Mark Rozzo,
Vanity Fair,
12 June 2026
Adjective
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International migration has long been a sensitive issue in Europe, as nations grapple with an aging population and increasing anti-foreigner sentiment.—
Jamey Keaten,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
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International migration has long been a sensitive issue in Europe, as nations grapple with an aging population and increasing anti-foreigner sentiment.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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Eleven hours into this 15-hour shift, most of the attending’s best qualities — his pragmatic approach to medicine, his encouragement of young colleagues, his ability to roll with unexpected challenges — have curdled into huffy dismissiveness and defensive blind spots.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
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For example, maybe the subject would act huffy, anticipating that the interactant was going to treat them differently.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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However, Venus’ square to Chiron could make a friendship or financial entanglement extra touchy.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
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Amid touching on other touchy topics, Xavi also accused Laporta of vetoing Lionel Messi’s proposed 2023 return to the club.—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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By combining literacy with something welcoming and familiar like food, Cruz hopes to make the ticklish topic more approachable.—
Catharine Kaufman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
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But all that interest, here, also can generate another ticklish dynamic.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tetchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tetchy. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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