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

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Though the conflict is over four decades old, the subject is a touchy one whenever England and Argentina have taken the pitch for the last 40-plus years. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2026 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 Money is still somewhat of a touchy subject for Jason Bateman. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 21 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for touchy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for touchy

Adjective

Tehran has no intention of backing down in the face of an American naval blockade and attacks on its oil tankers, said the official, who asked not to be identified discussing sensitive matters.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026
Meanwhile, the timing of the September meeting is politically sensitive, arriving just ahead of the US midterms.

— , CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of sensitive

Adjective

Being undefeated after a trio of difficult opening matches can only be seen as a positive, even if Newcastle’s obvious shortcomings require addressing if that run is to be prolonged.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Engineers need flight data on propulsion, aerodynamics, thermal management, guidance and other subsystems under conditions that are difficult to reproduce on the ground.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of difficult

Adjective

During a second-round match between two of tennis’ most combustible personalities, Ilie Nastase and John McEnroe, chair umpire Frank Hammond penalized and eventually defaulted Nastase for his behavior.

— Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Last year, the combustible Russian, Daniil Medvedev, invited a late-night crowd to jeer for six straight minutes after a photographer ran onto the court at match point.

— Owen Lewis, Air Mail, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of combustible

Adjective

Schrader approaches some pretty tetchy, third-rail territory, doing some debating about whether one act of child abuse means that John is, inherently, a child abuser by nature.

— Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of tetchy

Adjective

Competing in a Grand Tour is one of sport’s toughest endurance tests.

— Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Trump used several minutes of his speech to praise Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is in a tough Senate race in America's largest red state.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of tough

Adjective

If Monken creates an offense that’s greatly improved and at least occasionally explosive, maybe the Browns can overachieve.

— Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
The complaint filed last week in Southern California is the first legal action since the explosive allegations surrounding Chavez were first reported by the New York Times in March.

— CBS News, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of explosive

Adjective

An example of Suzuki’s occasionally problematic late-game decision-making occurred during the home series against the Houston Astros from July 27 to July 29.

— Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
The setting is contemporary Paris in crisis, when civil unrest, rather amorphously presented apart from increasing numbers of military on the streets, makes evening strolls potentially problematic.

— Jay Weissberg, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026