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
Longtime etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore weighs in on the touchy subject.
—
Emily Strohm, Peoplemag, 2 Aug. 2024
Offer Access To Expert Advisors And Tools Credit can be a touchy subject with customers.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024
The song itself is lyrically complex and clear-sighted in its treatment of the touchy subject of addiction.
—Spin Contributor, SPIN, 11 Sep. 2024
Jurors could be asked their views about former drug users
Another touchy subject area deals with feelings toward people addicted to drugs or alcohol.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for touchy 
Emily Strohm, Peoplemag, 2 Aug. 2024
Offer Access To Expert Advisors And Tools Credit can be a touchy subject with customers.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024
The song itself is lyrically complex and clear-sighted in its treatment of the touchy subject of addiction.
—Spin Contributor, SPIN, 11 Sep. 2024
Jurors could be asked their views about former drug users
Another touchy subject area deals with feelings toward people addicted to drugs or alcohol.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for touchy
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'touchy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near touchy
Cite this Entry
“Touchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/touchy. Accessed 24 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
touchy
adjective
touchier; touchiest
1
: easily hurt or insulted
2
: calling for tact or careful handling
a touchy subject
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