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
Alonso wasn’t a touchy-feely boss.
—
Phil Hay, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Nearly a year after the duo went viral for their hilariously meme-able finger-holding moment, the Eternal Sunshine artist is addressing the fact that the costars have a very touchy-feely friendship.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Nov. 2025
In the clip, the pair appear very touchy-feely, with Nader touching Mortensen's chest multiple times throughout the video, and Mortensen playfully touching her hand and arm.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 13 Nov. 2025
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
By contrast, Drebin Jr. is more like a clumsy, aging Saint Bernard: a big, shambling man who wears a dour frown but can turn touchy-feely when the talk turns to romance, owls, or turkey dinners.
—Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
Despite that seemingly blasé way the pair first met, the documentary is willing to get a bit more touchy-feely than Lewis herself, making a sterling argument that the duo were really just two pieces of one entity.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 17 July 2025
Phil Hay, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Nearly a year after the duo went viral for their hilariously meme-able finger-holding moment, the Eternal Sunshine artist is addressing the fact that the costars have a very touchy-feely friendship.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Nov. 2025
In the clip, the pair appear very touchy-feely, with Nader touching Mortensen's chest multiple times throughout the video, and Mortensen playfully touching her hand and arm.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 13 Nov. 2025
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
By contrast, Drebin Jr. is more like a clumsy, aging Saint Bernard: a big, shambling man who wears a dour frown but can turn touchy-feely when the talk turns to romance, owls, or turkey dinners.
—Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
Despite that seemingly blasé way the pair first met, the documentary is willing to get a bit more touchy-feely than Lewis herself, making a sterling argument that the duo were really just two pieces of one entity.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 17 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touchy-feely
Adjective
-
That increase has come with a financial strain and emotional stress for families across the country and in North Carolina.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Her relationship with Kerr hits several bumps, giving Blunt the chance to showcase her emotional range in tense scenes.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Yet despite being the boss at work, the 52-year-old mother and stepmother of nine children could also be funny and affectionate with family.—
Christine Pelisek,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Over the years, many have stopped seeing Pretty Woman as an affectionate fairytale.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Touchy-feely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touchy-feely. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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