touchier; touchiest
1
: marked by readiness to take offense on slight provocation
he's a little touchy about his past
2
: calling for tact, care, or caution in treatment
a touchy subject
3
a
of a body part : acutely sensitive or irritable
b
of a chemical : highly explosive or inflammable
touchily adverb
touchiness noun

Examples of touchy in a Sentence

Don't be so touchy. I was just kidding. watch what you say around him, as he's very touchy about every little thing
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Under this heavy transit, your finances and intimate unions are touchy topics. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025 What To Know In recent years, mounting economic pressures have also emerged as yet another touchy topic. Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025 People are very touchy about finances. Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 17 Sep. 2025 So start scrolling to discover the products our touchiest of testers trust with their prickly complexions. Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for touchy

Word History

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of touchy was in 1602

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Touchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/touchy. Accessed 28 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

touchy

adjective
touchier; touchiest
1
: easily hurt or insulted
2
: calling for tact or careful handling
a touchy subject

More from Merriam-Webster on touchy

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