tetchy

adjective

ˈte-chē How to pronounce tetchy (audio)
Definition of tetchynext
as in irritable
easily offended a morose and tetchy resident of a nursing home

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 tetchy 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 Smart, capable and quick-witted, Toha’s current joy comes from her relationship with Nelly (Khadija Ahmed), the spoiled granddaughter of her employer (Hanan Youssef), a tetchy, elderly diabetic. — Alissa Simon, Variety, 25 Feb. 2026 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 England's last competitive result was a 1-0 win in Andorra back in June when Harry Kane scored the only goal in a surprisingly tetchy result for the visiting team. — Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tetchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tetchy
  1. irritable
  2. sensitive
  3. huffy
  4. touchy
  5. ticklish
  6. thin-skinned
Adjective
  • Murray says her own experience has made her more understanding when female colleagues seem more tired or irritable than usual, particularly when the behavior is out of character.
    — Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Could be because for much of the running time, Abrams’ Jay Gardiner is up against what looks like a very large irritable sphincter.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of irritable
Adjective
  • State officials had provided a version of the rolls that withheld such sensitive personal information, citing privacy concerns.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 2 Nov. 2026
  • An Israeli military official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media or to discuss sensitive operational matters, also confirmed the withdrawal.
    — Francesca Ebel, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of sensitive
Adjective
  • Ben Green’s thumping bass leads to huffy breathing, which leads to bone-snapping drum machine rhythms and an ectoplasmic elastic guitar riff.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of huffy
Adjective
  • By sticking her neck out and opening up a very touchy subject for examination, Hannah-Jones has done much more to advance the cause of public education than most of her detractors will give her credit for.
    — Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Despite their pointy protrusions, the sculptures are not spiky enough to leave a mark; and despite their flirtations with touchy subject matter, none of the works—not even the 9/11 ones—are vulgar enough to get Wolfson in hot water.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of touchy
Adjective
  • These songs are very evidently arranged, with ticklish, left-field grooves and tight pockets—never too tight for the persistent, puckish charm, the elbow-nudging glee.
    — Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of ticklish
Adjective
  • The thin-skinned fruit can absorb odors from nearby aromatic fridge-mates, so try to keep them away from ramps, onions, leeks, cut garlic, or strong-smelling leftovers.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Being front and center in the political sphere is certainly not for the thin-skinned, and no one knows that more than Vice President JD Vance's wife, Usha.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of thin-skinned

Browse Nearby Words

testy
tetchy
tête-à-tête
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“Tetchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tetchy. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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