1
as in sensitive
easily offended
he's ticklish about his looks, so it's wisest to avoid the subject altogether
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
trying to tell him that his zipper is down without embarrassing him will be a ticklish task
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ticklish
From celebrities to brands and many other users across the platform, folks chimed in to share their despair with Hollywood’s most ticklish friend.
—
Ryan Fish, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
In practice, the last of these—which sounds tame, and which refers to the number of people who will be affected by the act—is probably the most morally ticklish, as any secondhand smoker can confirm.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023
This is a ticklish subject, to be sure.
—Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 6 Oct. 2022
What keeps Sandy from jumping turns out to be one of Row’s cleverest, most ticklish plot devices.
—John Domini, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for ticklish
Ryan Fish, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
In practice, the last of these—which sounds tame, and which refers to the number of people who will be affected by the act—is probably the most morally ticklish, as any secondhand smoker can confirm.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023
This is a ticklish subject, to be sure.
—Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 6 Oct. 2022
What keeps Sandy from jumping turns out to be one of Row’s cleverest, most ticklish plot devices.
—John Domini, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for ticklish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ticklish
Adjective
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These searches help keep digital communications and sensitive information safe.—
Jeremiah Bartz,
The Conversation,
30 May 2025
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The lightweight formula is fragrance-free — ideal for sensitive skin — and doubles as a primer thanks to its matte finish.—
Madison Yauger,
People.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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But the fact that Schwartzman, in his first film, was given the difficult task of stealing laughs away from a comedy legend, and so often succeeds in doing so, gives him the slight edge.—
Shannon Carlin,
Time,
30 May 2025
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These connections are difficult to make from within, but consultants are trained to see across boundaries.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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However, avoid touchy subjects and disputes with siblings and daily contacts.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
18 May 2025
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Given the touchy subject, the study authors are of course all Italians, by design.—
Francesca Giuliani Hoffman,
CNN Money,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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This is a time for doing the tough, often unglamorous job of making the city function for all New Yorkers.—
Scott Stringer,
New York Daily News,
3 June 2025
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When staring at twin suns like from much greater distances — many light-years away — astronomers have a much tougher time than young Skywalker in determining two stars from one.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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The crew is under the supervision of the capable Mensah (Noma Dumezweni) who is prone to panic attacks as the group visits an irritable planet at the behest of The Corporation — a powerful business conglomerate where profit is indeed king.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
16 May 2025
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It’s said to cause people to become irritable, aggravate health problems, and abrade mechanical devices.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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The first takes us back to January 2023 and the first leg of a tetchy Carabao Cup semi-final against Southampton, whose Duje Caleta-Car is shown a red card late on.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
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At least, that’s how a plurality of Americans perceive the tetchy state of our union.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Since then, however, there have been new revelations in their complicated family dynamics.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
3 June 2025
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But every one of those steps was much more complicated for abelian surfaces.—
Joseph Howlett,
Quanta Magazine,
2 June 2025
Adjective
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However, the water impact of cannabis becomes more problematic in regions where it’s grown illegally or without proper oversight.—
Tribune Content Agency,
Mercury News,
23 May 2025
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Baltimore City Hall leaders acknowledged on Wednesday that squatting and social media networks potentially profiting from such activities are problematic.—
Gary Collins,
Baltimore Sun,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ticklish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ticklish. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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