1
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
2
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
3
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
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Recent Examples of touchy
Bigleaf hydrangeas can be especially touchy when grown in Northern states.
—
Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Dec. 2025
Likewise, romance is touchy and disappointing.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 5 Dec. 2025
This could mean establishing that conversations about certain topics, like politics or religion, are off the table—touchy subjects about which people feel passionately.
—Sara Rowe Mount, Parents, 30 Oct. 2025
What To Know In recent years, mounting economic pressures have also emerged as yet another touchy topic.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for touchy
Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Dec. 2025
Likewise, romance is touchy and disappointing.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 5 Dec. 2025
This could mean establishing that conversations about certain topics, like politics or religion, are off the table—touchy subjects about which people feel passionately.
—Sara Rowe Mount, Parents, 30 Oct. 2025
What To Know In recent years, mounting economic pressures have also emerged as yet another touchy topic.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for touchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touchy
Adjective
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Still, a few things are worth keeping in mind, especially if your teen is more sensitive, anxious, or likely to shut down under pressure.—
Dorian Johnson,
Parents,
1 Feb. 2026
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Infused with the same micro triple-lipid capsules—ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids—that replenish the skin barrier on contact, it’s specifically formulated for dry, sensitive skin.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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This requires the difficult task of collecting precise, real-world measurements of complex nuclei and comparing the measurements with the models’ predictions.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Feb. 2026
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While that process may prove difficult, the suspension option was hardly better.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Fire officials recommend keeping heaters at least three feet away from anything combustible and never leaving them running unattended.—
Daniel Wilkerson,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
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Even so, the Garland Fire Department used the opportunity to remind residents to prioritize kitchen fire safety by keeping combustible items — including paper towels, dish towels, food packaging, and plastic containers — away from stovetops and, if necessary, investing in safety stove knob covers.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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On the contrary, Juventus’ football soothed even the most irritable sections of the crowd.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
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This can include feeling irritable, having a low frustration tolerance, feeling easily overstimulated, and having rapid shifts in emotion.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Going through a severe injury is probably the toughest thing an athlete can go through.—
DJ Siddiqi,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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More companies are dialing back flexible work schedules and mandating that employees return to the office part-time or full-time, forcing women into tough situations.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This explosive documentary takes a look at the history of the city’s racial injustice, along with the complex dynamic between Black residents and the LAPD, and how these all led to the uprising on April 29, 1992.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
1 Feb. 2026
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Judging by the explosive reactions to his yet-unseen film, more Nordic colleagues should take notice.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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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
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Reynolds is a tetchy tyrant, who, enabled by his sister, Cyril (Lesley Manville), has embraced a need to have things just so as a means of warding off vulnerability.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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At supersonic speeds, this is incredibly problematic.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Ignore areas that look problematic.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
25 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Touchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touchy. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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