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Definition of touchy

touchy

/ˈtʌtʃ.i/
touch · y
Adverb:touchily
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touchy Lexical Profile

touchy Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Easily offended, upset, or angered; oversensitive and irritable in temperament.

Example

"He has been unusually touchy lately whenever anyone asks about his progress on the thesis."

2

Requiring careful, tactful, or delicate handling because of potential controversy, awkwardness, or instability.

Example

"Salary disparities remain a touchy subject among the department's junior faculty members."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for touchy

• Nearby Words

touchpoint
touchscreen
touchstone
touchy
tough
toughen
toughie

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the early 17th century, likely formed from the verb 'touch' and the suffix '-y', or possibly as a folk-etymological alteration of the earlier adjective 'tetchy' (irritable).

Cite this Entry

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