TOUCHY Synonyms: 134 Similar and Opposite Words

touchy

adjective

ˈtə-chē

Definition of touchy

as in sensitive

easily offended watch what you say around him, as he's very touchy about every little thing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in difficult

requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling money is a touchy subject for many people and shouldn't be discussed casually

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in combustible

capable of catching or being set on fire the experiment involves the use of some touchy chemicals, so caution is required

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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 touchy Higher prices are a touchy subject approaching the midterm elections, when narrow Republican control of both chambers of Congress is at stake. — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 17 June 2026 Amid touching on other touchy topics, Xavi also accused Laporta of vetoing Lionel Messi’s proposed 2023 return to the club. — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026 People are touchy during the Full Moon. — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 31 May 2026 Although unconfirmed, sources also believe Biel may still be upset by photos published by The Sun in 2019 of Timberlake being touchy with his Palmer co-star Alisha Wainwright in New Orleans. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for touchy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for touchy

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

In only his second year as a head coach, Marsh is again helming a combustible team that requires him to manage a lot more than just basketball.

— Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 7 July 2026
And just as lighting a candle requires multiple causal factors – the presence of oxygen, a combustible object, a source of ignition – developing motivations requires multiple social and structural factors for that spark to grow into a flame.

— Deborah Mower, The Conversation, 2 July 2026

Definition of combustible

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

The talks are meant to focus on the toughest matters, including fully reopening the strait and rolling back Tehran’s disputed nuclear program.

— Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Patrick Cantlay made a little noise in an otherwise quiet year for the American with five birdies in 10 holes and then a collection of tough par saves at the end that felt just as valuable.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026

Definition of tough

Adjective

From 2010 to 2024, Santa Clarita’s population grew 33% — explosive growth that came in part because, unlike overbuilt Los Angeles, the city has access to more open space for new residential development.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Cases of an explosive diarrheal parasite continue to skyrocket in Michigan, which is reporting 1,251 cases as of July 9.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 9 July 2026

Definition of explosive

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

Note that film-rating site Rotten Tomatoes was part of NBCUniversal for years, and some critics have slammed that ownership structure as being problematic.

— Todd Spangler, Variety, 10 July 2026
Manufacturers continue to refine the technology, but many of the refrigerants remain problematic.

— Sabrina Weiss, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026