TOUCHY Synonyms: 134 Similar and Opposite Words

touchy

adjective

ˈtə-chē

Definition of touchy

as in sensitive

easily offended watch what you say around him, as he's very touchy about every little thing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in difficult

requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling money is a touchy subject for many people and shouldn't be discussed casually

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in combustible

capable of catching or being set on fire the experiment involves the use of some touchy chemicals, so caution is required

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of touchy Money is still somewhat of a touchy subject for Jason Bateman. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 21 June 2026 Either way, our somewhat unpredictable spring weather this year has made things a bit more touchy than usual, so please call ahead to verify availability before heading anywhere. — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 17 June 2026 Higher prices are a touchy subject approaching the midterm elections, when narrow Republican control of both chambers of Congress is at stake. — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 17 June 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for touchy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for touchy

Adjective

Batteries can store electricity, but extreme cold can threaten sensitive electronics and other critical hardware.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026
There are several hundred stars that closely orbit this giant black hole and are sensitive to its gravity.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of sensitive

Adjective

The California Board of Pharmacy in 2025 reversed course on regulations that would have made the supplement more difficult to acquire after pushback from some firefighters.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Striking out on her own was a difficult transition, but embracing her solitude gave her the space to learn more about herself and make her own personal decisions, such as getting her cat or making meals of her choosing.

— Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of difficult

Adjective

Fallen leaves, tree needles, bark, storing firewood and other combustible materials all must be removed from this area, according to a summary of the draft regulation.

— Paris Barraza, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026
Nearly all the fires were ignited with a lighter and combustible material, the affidavit reads.

— Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of combustible

Adjective

Skipping meals can negatively affect blood sugar levels and leave you feeling hungry, irritable, and unable to pay attention.

— Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 12 Aug. 2026
Bill Murray plays Phil Connors, an irritable, cynical weatherman sent to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to report a story about the town’s quaint groundhog ceremony.

— David Faris, TheWeek, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of irritable

Adjective

With men on first and third and nobody out that inning, second baseman Jackson Holliday fielded a tough grounder and threw to second, but shortstop Gunnar Henderson dropped the ball for an error and everyone was safe.

— CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
As for footwear sales in the region, the second quarter saw a slowdown of sales of high-heat product, alongside tougher comparatives and ongoing softness in end-of-cycle footwear product lines.

— Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of tough

Adjective

The footage mixes high-speed chases and explosive action with comedic beats, framing a story built around chaos, mismatched heroism and rising stakes as the mission unfolds.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
The rift widened in the wake of the couple’s explosive sit-down with Oprah Winfrey, their Netflix docuseries and Harry’s tell-all memoir.

— Max Foster, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of explosive

Adjective

The presence of Luca Guadagnino’s name in the credits as a producer and Monica Bellucci’s entertaining but all-too-scant turn as the main character’s tetchy mother may attract offshore interest, especially among streamers in need of fresh content.

— Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026
And then an ignominious end to her Indian Wells title defense, which saw her cursing at the crowd after a tense, tetchy loss to Kateřina Siniaková in her second match.

— Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 2 June 2026

Definition of tetchy

Adjective

Animal-rights groups have been problematic at times with the zoos.

— Katie Campione, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026
Instagram users have always been able to block others — and, along with Meta’s oldest crown jewel, Facebook — the app has gradually added features for reporting problematic accounts and inappropriate content.

— Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026