thin-skinned

adjective

ˈthin-ˌskind How to pronounce thin-skinned (audio)
Definition of thin-skinnednext
as in sensitive
easily offended she only laughed at the teasing, but a more thin-skinned person would have gotten angry

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 thin-skinned 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 What to Store in a High-Humidity Crisper The high-humidity drawer should contain thin-skinned or leafy vegetables that are prone to wilting or losing moisture quickly, such as asparagus, fresh herbs, and greens. — Frances Kim, Martha Stewart, 2 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 See All Example Sentences for thin-skinned
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thin-skinned
  1. sensitive
  2. irritable
  3. tetchy
  4. touchy
  5. huffy
  6. ticklish
Adjective
  • The autonomous coding tool can send sensitive information to a remote server without a user’s consent, the statement said in Chinese, according to a CNBC translation.
    — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 8 July 2026
  • The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the possible crash.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Definition of sensitive
Adjective
  • The symptoms are so delayed that people often blame them on food poisoning, irritable-bowel syndrome, gluten intolerance.
    — Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
  • Cancer could be affectionate and chatty one moment, and withdrawn and irritable the next, with little to no explanation.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026
Definition of irritable
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of tetchy
Adjective
  • Still, the emotional tone could be slightly touchy this morning, especially around affection, validation and unreciprocated needs.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of touchy
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
Definition of huffy
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
Definition of ticklish

Browse Nearby Words

thins
thin-skinned
third rail
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Cite this Entry

“Thin-skinned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thin-skinned. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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