1
as in sensitive
easily offended
watch what you say around him, as he's very touchy about every little thing
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
money is a touchy subject for many people and shouldn't be discussed casually
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in combustible
capable of catching or being set on fire
the experiment involves the use of some touchy chemicals, so caution is required
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of touchy
If someone does bring up the Bears, be considerate and change the subject to something less touchy, like immigration or Jeff Bezos.
—
Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
For the past couple of years, the housing market has been a touchy subject for many Americans.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
If money or chores feel touchy with someone at home, don’t try to fix everything at once.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026
Consciousness remains a touchy topic in the AI industry.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for touchy
Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
For the past couple of years, the housing market has been a touchy subject for many Americans.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
If money or chores feel touchy with someone at home, don’t try to fix everything at once.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026
Consciousness remains a touchy topic in the AI industry.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for touchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touchy
Adjective
-
This wasn’t surprising, given that intelligence agencies compartmentalize information about sensitive operations.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
It is well understood in the region that could mean things like broad targeting of sensitive and highly vulnerable energy installations, something Iran has already threatened, essential for the regional and global economies, as well as hard to quickly repair and rebuild.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Christie acknowledged that the Kings were in a difficult position given their recent schedule injury situation.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Even putting the tank on the ice was more difficult this year.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Hurley was burned out after his Huskies failed to play to the program’s standard, and after he was pummeled nationally during the 2024-25 season for his combustible sideline disposition, in Maui and beyond.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The complaint also alleges that the project is violating ordinances setting limits on lighting and noise levels, and an ordinance that prohibits storage of combustible materials, including diesel generators.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
From the dramatic adolescent to the unpredictable PMS-ing woman to the irritable menopausal crone, unattractive stereotypes of women ruled by their hormones abound.—
Patricia Bencivenga,
STAT,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Caroly is immediately affected, glued to the TV; John, suddenly irritable, retreats.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The judge assigned to Amin’s case was Iman Afshari, known in Tehran for his tough sentences—a reputation that led the European Union to place him on a blacklist, in January, for human-rights abuses.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Two sisters in Big Bear are facing one of the toughest moments in their lives.—
Zach Boetto,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Police have arrested two more people over an attempt to place a homemade explosive device outside the Paris headquarters of Bank of America, the French domestic security service said Sunday.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The Best Time to Do These Exercises Plyometric and explosive work should be performed at the beginning of a session, after the warm-up, when the body is fresh.—
Jim Diehl CSCS,
Outside,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Edgily eager to shoot their scenes and get a move on with their acting lives, the increasingly tetchy trio are stuck in virtual drydock as all actual moviemaking has drained away.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
10 Mar. 2026
-
On the eve of the spring classics, the atmosphere is tetchy.—
Chris Marshall-Bell,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Amichai Cohen, a senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute’s Center for Democratic Values and Institutions, said this distinction is problematic.—
Julia Frankel,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Woods has always had a complicated reputation, but he’s also widely considered one of the best golfers ever, which means a lot of his problematic behavior has been excused because of his talent and his friendship with the US President.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Touchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touchy. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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