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Definition of ticklish

ticklish

/ˈtɪk.lɪʃ/
tick · lish
Adverb:ticklishly
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ticklish Lexical Profile

ticklish Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Sensitive to being tickled; easily made to laugh or squirm when lightly touched.

Example

"The toddler is terribly ticklish on the soles of his feet."

2

Difficult or tricky to handle; requiring careful, tactful, or delicate treatment.

Example

"Negotiating the border dispute proved to be a ticklish diplomatic matter."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

ticking
tickle
tickler
ticklish
ticklishness
tickly
tickseed

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the late 14th century from Middle English 'tikil' or 'tickle' combined with the suffix '-ish', initially used in the sense of being unstable or easily upset before developing the physical sense of sensitivity to touch.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ticklish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ticklish
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