TOUCHY (touchier, touchiest)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: touchier    , touchiest   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does touchy mean? 

• TOUCHY (adjective)
  The adjective TOUCHY has 2 senses:

1. quick to take offense

2. difficult to handle; requiring great tact

  Familiarity information: TOUCHY used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TOUCHY (adjective)

Comparative: touchier   
Superlative: touchiest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Quick to take offense

Synonyms:

feisty; huffy; thin-skinned; touchy

Similar:

sensitive (being susceptible to the attitudes, feelings, or circumstances of others)

Derivation:

touchiness (feeling easily irritated)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Difficult to handle; requiring great tact

Synonyms:

delicate; ticklish; touchy

Context example:

a touchy subject

Similar:

difficult; hard (not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure)

 Context examples 

You might want to avoid touchy subjects in the second half of November, but even that might not help.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

It was not until he had received his apology that our touchy friend would suffer himself to be appeased.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Altamont has a nice taste in wines, and he took a fancy to my Tokay. He is a touchy fellow and needs humouring in small things. I have to study him, I assure you.”

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

With Venus so warm and cozy, if you have to bring up a touchy topic with your partner, this would be the month to do it.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Got so touchy that he assaults anyone who asks questions, and heaves reporters down the stairs.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Sometimes you may have to talk over touchy matters, where you and your partner are strongly wedded to your respective, opposite positions.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)