as in emotional
showing feeling freely
she is too touchy-feely and he is too stiff-upper-lip for their relationship to ever work out
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Recent Examples of touchy-feely
But these touchy-feely white parents were doing something right, because their kids — my classmates — had poise.
—
Jane Park, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
If that strikes you as twee or downright silly, Olivia Newman‘s touchy-feely weepie is not on your wavelength.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 May 2026
Based, pretty bizarrely, on some light verse by T. S. Eliot, the original production, with its treacly pop-rock score, was set inside a junk yard full of touchy-feely showoffs in kitten ears, competing to reach the Heaviside Layer, a celestial MacGuffin.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026
That’s in contrast with Andrew’s lexicon of touchy-feely claptrap, all seemingly declarations of support and empathy but, ultimately, hollow.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Alonso wasn’t a touchy-feely boss.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Excuse the cynicism, but this is the sort of combination of touchy-feely button-pushing and self-conscious peculiarity that’s meant to seem significant and profound that will bring out your inner rom-com Grinch.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2025
Looser, more touchy-feely styles include gentle parenting and freestyle parenting.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 19 Aug. 2025
The image of her cutting a snake in half with her shovel doesn’t conjure up a touchy-feely woman.
—Marc Berman
august 15, Literary Hub, 15 Aug. 2025
Jane Park, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
If that strikes you as twee or downright silly, Olivia Newman‘s touchy-feely weepie is not on your wavelength.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 May 2026
Based, pretty bizarrely, on some light verse by T. S. Eliot, the original production, with its treacly pop-rock score, was set inside a junk yard full of touchy-feely showoffs in kitten ears, competing to reach the Heaviside Layer, a celestial MacGuffin.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026
That’s in contrast with Andrew’s lexicon of touchy-feely claptrap, all seemingly declarations of support and empathy but, ultimately, hollow.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Alonso wasn’t a touchy-feely boss.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Excuse the cynicism, but this is the sort of combination of touchy-feely button-pushing and self-conscious peculiarity that’s meant to seem significant and profound that will bring out your inner rom-com Grinch.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2025
Looser, more touchy-feely styles include gentle parenting and freestyle parenting.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 19 Aug. 2025
The image of her cutting a snake in half with her shovel doesn’t conjure up a touchy-feely woman.
—Marc Berman
august 15, Literary Hub, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touchy-feely
Adjective
-
Stronger communities are built when mental-health services move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches and recognize the emotional, social, cultural and practical realities people face every day.—
Maria Bledsoe,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 May 2026
-
Mercury enters Gemini in your 4th House of Home, bringing attention to family logistics, living space, and the emotional weather behind closed doors.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
This same influence will also promote affectionate romance.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
19 May 2026
-
The dog's owners say the pup has become more affectionate and snuggly since surviving her impalement.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Touchy-feely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touchy-feely. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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