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
-
Several jurors appeared emotional, covering their mouths.—
Dawn White,
CBS News,
7 June 2026
-
Though there are still many unknowns regarding the full effect of ayahuasca on the human experience, if my own is any indication, the mental and emotional gates this plant can open seem promising.—
Michaela Trimble,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
Adjective
-
Müller joins their ranks with these affectionate images.—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
The actress and estranged wife of actor Jason Biggs is stirring controversy on social media after sharing a pair of affectionate photos with her eldest son, Sid.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Touchy-feely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touchy-feely. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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