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
The controls are touchy when inserting the buds, but otherwise convenient thanks to both a multi-key and volume rocker.
—
Ryan Waniata, Wired News, 27 May 2025
That remains a politically touchy issue in the U.K., seen by some Brexiteers as inching back toward free movement, according to the Associated Press.
—Danielle Wallace, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2025
In that sense, the vulgar Vader situation creates a touchy dilemma for Epic Games and Disney, which likely invested substantially in this high-profile collaboration.
—ArsTechnica, 16 May 2025
Few things in life are touchier or more prone to argument than the topic of favorite sports movies.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for touchy
Ryan Waniata, Wired News, 27 May 2025
That remains a politically touchy issue in the U.K., seen by some Brexiteers as inching back toward free movement, according to the Associated Press.
—Danielle Wallace, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2025
In that sense, the vulgar Vader situation creates a touchy dilemma for Epic Games and Disney, which likely invested substantially in this high-profile collaboration.
—ArsTechnica, 16 May 2025
Few things in life are touchier or more prone to argument than the topic of favorite sports movies.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for touchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touchy
Adjective
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There’s another potential dynamic at play, too: Will humans be more willing to divulge more sensitive details to a machine than another human?—
Gina Chua,
semafor.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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Short-term health risks, especially for sensitive populations, can include eyes, throat and nose irritation, asthma attacks, coughing and shortness of breath.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Palace’s recruitment strategy depends on selling players, however difficult such deals are to stomach.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
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Chapa said at the news conference that making a final decision was difficult.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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That combustible set-up blew up in the faces of the bears who needed nothing short of a Powell decrying everything Trump, not realizing that Powell favors two wonderful factors: honesty and truth.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
24 Aug. 2025
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Drier plants make more combustible fuel for wildfires.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Avi tries to comfort his grieving (read: irritable) mother by saying at least his grandmother and grandfather are together again in Heaven.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
22 Aug. 2025
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For years men have blamed divorce on menopause and said women are irritable and irrational, says Alyx Coble-Frake, founder of The Agenda, an app that helps women track their menstrual cycle to help increase productivity.—
Laura Trujillo,
USA Today,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Unlike Trump, they aren’t charmed by the Kremlin’s tough guy.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
14 Aug. 2025
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Yermak’s been a pivotal conduit for Ukraine in negotiating with the U.S. and its European allies, particularly in pushing for tougher sanctions on Russia.—
Chris Massaro,
FOXNews.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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John Cena returned as Chris Smith, aka Peacemaker, in Season 2 of the series of the same name, with a premiere that was fun, yet explosive, and set the stage for what is to come.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
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As pickleball continues its explosive growth, clubs across the country are racing to build new courts.—
Scott Miller,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Britain has since struck a trade deal with the U.S., however, becoming the first country to do so as tetchy trade talks continue for other trading partners, including the European Union which is still waiting to sign a trade agreement with Washington.—
Jenni Reid,Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
11 July 2025
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Her new novel, Spent, tells the story of one Alison Bechdel, a tetchy lesbian cartoonist running a pygmy-goat sanctuary in Vermont who is trying to write a memoir about the corrupting influence of money.—
Andrea Long Chu,
Vulture,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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The always flammable Siraj was fined 15 per cent of his match fee and given one demerit point for screaming into the face of Duckett in the third Test at Lord’s, with the two then brushing shoulders.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
1 Aug. 2025
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The Context Officers responded around 11:30 a.m. after Vogler was doused with a flammable liquid and set on fire, said the Danville Police Department.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Touchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touchy. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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