touchy
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
getting angry or upset very easily, often about small things.
oversensitive or irritable; prone to taking offense at minor slights.
Simple“Be careful what you say to him today; he is very touchy about his new haircut.”
In context“The manager has been particularly touchy since the audit began, so I would advise against bringing up the budget discrepancies just yet.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a topic or situation that is difficult to handle and needs a lot of care to avoid trouble.
requiring delicate handling or tact due to the potential for volatility or offense.
Simple“Politics can be a touchy subject at family dinners.”
In context“The boundary dispute remains a touchy issue between the two nations, complicating any attempts at a formal trade agreement.”
Antonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
liking to touch other people a lot, for example by hugging them or putting a hand on their arm.
inclined to engage in frequent physical contact with others during social interaction.
Simple“She is a very touchy person who always gives her friends a big hug.”
In context“While some cultures find a touchy communication style to be warm and engaging, others may perceive it as an intrusion of personal space.”
UsageOften used in the phrase 'touchy-feely' to describe someone who is overly physical or emotional.
Synonyms
A variant of earlier tetchy (“cranky, easily annoyed, difficult to handle”), under influence from some senses of touch (“affect, disturb”) and simulating touch + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.