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
Cucumbers with thicker skin will last longer than thin-skinned varieties, but they should all be stored the same way.
—
Susan Hall Mahon, Southern Living, 8 June 2026
Dolan earned his reputation with a mix of poor team performance, uninspired front office hiring, and a reputation as a thin-skinned dictator, including banning former player Charles Oakley from Madison Square Garden and using facial recognition technology to monitor fans.
—Alex Sherman, CNBC, 28 May 2026
This year, however, multiple high level sources said the conglomerates are particularly thin-skinned about the scathing Cannes critics.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 16 May 2026
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
Susan Hall Mahon, Southern Living, 8 June 2026
Dolan earned his reputation with a mix of poor team performance, uninspired front office hiring, and a reputation as a thin-skinned dictator, including banning former player Charles Oakley from Madison Square Garden and using facial recognition technology to monitor fans.
—Alex Sherman, CNBC, 28 May 2026
This year, however, multiple high level sources said the conglomerates are particularly thin-skinned about the scathing Cannes critics.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 16 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thin-skinned
Adjective
-
According to the text of the current agreement, the most sensitive nuclear issues are not yet agreed to on paper.—
Quinn Scanlan,
ABC News,
21 June 2026
-
Just last month, an attack on Canvas, a software used in schools and colleges, put thousands of students at risk by exposing sensitive information.—
Taylor Croft,
AJC.com,
21 June 2026
Adjective
-
They can be withdrawn or irritable.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
-
While Hockney worked, Auden, as the artist recalled, played the part of the impatient, irritable grump.—
Mark Rozzo,
Vanity Fair,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
In the first week of testimony, Musk took the stand and couldn’t help but get tetchy.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
20 May 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
-
Manliness is a touchy subject these days, but there was a time when honorable combat was respected above the mere running of one’s mouth.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
-
Money is still somewhat of a touchy subject for Jason Bateman.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 June 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
-
For example, maybe the subject would act huffy, anticipating that the interactant was going to treat them differently.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
But all that interest, here, also can generate another ticklish dynamic.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thin-skinned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thin-skinned. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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