as in sensitive
easily offended
she only laughed at the teasing, but a more thin-skinned person would have gotten angry
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Recent Examples of thin-skinned
Players and coaches have become maddeningly mealy-mouthed, striving to avoid upsetting agents, sponsors, owners, fans, thin-skinned politicians, and whoever else might object.
—
Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026
In what neatly encapsulates the uncomfortable, rude, thin-skinned yet cruel, sarcastic and ultimately juvenile communication style of his online brood, the leader of the pack started with — what else — Lawrence’s looks.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026
Chef Mingoo Kang’s favorite vegetable is the thin-skinned variety of Kermit-green summer squash known as aehobak, or Korean zucchini, which is slightly sweeter and more aromatic than American zucchini.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
More delicate, thin-skinned fruit like mandarins and Meyer lemons require a more hands-on approach using snips.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 6 Mar. 2026
While some might depict the NFL as thin-skinned in challenging the report cards, both the league and union use arbitration to enforce CBA provisions.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Feb. 2026
The football world overflows with thin-skinned, insecure coaches.
—Steve Buckley, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
To be thin-skinned means being especially sensitive to criticism, and it’s often perceived as lacking strength or the capacity to cope under pressure.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Instead Linda devolves, becoming more pugnacious and thin-skinned and pissed off.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026
In what neatly encapsulates the uncomfortable, rude, thin-skinned yet cruel, sarcastic and ultimately juvenile communication style of his online brood, the leader of the pack started with — what else — Lawrence’s looks.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026
Chef Mingoo Kang’s favorite vegetable is the thin-skinned variety of Kermit-green summer squash known as aehobak, or Korean zucchini, which is slightly sweeter and more aromatic than American zucchini.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
More delicate, thin-skinned fruit like mandarins and Meyer lemons require a more hands-on approach using snips.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 6 Mar. 2026
While some might depict the NFL as thin-skinned in challenging the report cards, both the league and union use arbitration to enforce CBA provisions.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Feb. 2026
The football world overflows with thin-skinned, insecure coaches.
—Steve Buckley, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
To be thin-skinned means being especially sensitive to criticism, and it’s often perceived as lacking strength or the capacity to cope under pressure.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Instead Linda devolves, becoming more pugnacious and thin-skinned and pissed off.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thin-skinned
Adjective
-
The ability to acquire land in fee simple is essential and, in many cases, the most effective and expedient way to protect sensitive landscapes, especially in rapidly developing areas.—
Susan Carr,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Eating large amounts or consuming them on an empty stomach may increase the likelihood of discomfort in sensitive individuals.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
What are the symptoms of irritable bowel disease?—
Lindy Segal,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Perhaps through feeling more irritable, more anxious, or wanting to isolate.—
Joy Harden Bradford,
AJC.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Both shows feature fish-out-of-water scenarios and Levy as a tetchy gay man with a difficult sister—though Nicky has two of those, not just one.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Edgily eager to shoot their scenes and get a move on with their acting lives, the increasingly tetchy trio are stuck in virtual drydock as all actual moviemaking has drained away.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But then Johnson pivoted to corruption, a touchy subject in Mexico.—
Steve Fisher,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Xinjiang has long been a touchy issue in neighboring Kazakhstan, a Central Asian country of 20 million people that relies on China as a major trading partner.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
He is seen as favoring Christine Lagarde, head of the European Central Bank, to take over WEF, though her huffy exit this year from a dinner stacked with US government officials may make things awkward.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There’s a ticklish elusiveness to the portraits of Blume’s husbands in the book, and to those of her kids, Randy and Larry, as well.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Transporting the patient 12 miles to Hartford Hospital would be ticklish.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thin-skinned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thin-skinned. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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