touchy

adjective

ˈtə-chē 

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

touchily

ˈtə-chə-lē 

adverb

touchiness

ˈtə-chē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of touchy

• sensitive
• irritable
• tetchy
• ticklish
• huffy

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

True to form, Karp delved into a couple touchy subjects on Monday’s earnings call, including the Administration’s recent focus on drug traffickers in South America. —Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025

This could mean establishing that conversations about certain topics, like politics or religion, are off the table—touchy subjects about which people feel passionately. —Sara Rowe Mount, Parents, 30 Oct. 2025

Under this heavy transit, your finances and intimate unions are touchy topics. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025

What To Know In recent years, mounting economic pressures have also emerged as yet another touchy topic. —Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing touchy

• touchy-feely

Rhymes for touchy

• duchy

Kids Definition

touchy

adjective

ˈtəch-ē 

touchier; touchiest

1

: easily hurt or insulted

2

: calling for tact or careful handling

a touchy subject