touchy en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˈtʌt͡ʃi/
Etymology
A variant of earlier tetchy (“cranky, easily annoyed, difficult to handle”), under influence from some senses of touch (“affect, disturb”) and simulating touch + -y.
Meanings
-
(of a situation) Extremely sensitive or volatile; easily disturbed to the point of becoming unstable; requiring caution or tactfulness.
Eminent Americans are to be invited to direct by will their interment there; and in the case of Americans not so eminent as to be invited, but who have nevertheless expressed a wish to join the others, a committee will decide. It seems a touchy business all along...
1927, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados Mysteries:It is an extremely touchy situation, with everybody's patience wearing thin.
-
(of a person) Easily offended, oversensitive.
I can assure you, Mr Hosier, that other people are much more touchy about my blindness than I am.
1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:Ashley: Look at the size of that ship! Kaidan: The Ascension. Flagship of the Citadel fleet. Joker: Well, size isn't everything. Ashley: Why so touchy, Joker? Joker: I'm just saying you need firepower, too.
2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Bridge, Command Deck, SSV Normandy:He can be very touchy when you talk about his estranged son, so be as tactful as possible.
- (informal) Inclined to engage in physical touch.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| touchier | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| touchiest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Deriveds
Synonyms
irascible (easily irritated) · delicate (extremely sensitive) · scabrous (extremely sensitive) · cranky (easily irritated) · touch and go (extremely sensitive) · handsy · touchy-feely · tetchy (easily irritated) · irritable (easily irritated) · tetchy (extremely sensitive)
Translations (63)
izh herkkä ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · fr irascible ((situation) sensitive or volatile) · mi taringa rahirahi ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · tr darılgan ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · hy նեղացկոտ ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · sv överkänslig ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · tr alıngan ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · de empfindlich ((situation) sensitive or volatile) · bg докачлив ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · fi herkkätunteinen ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · it facilmente irritabile ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · es picajón ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · ru раздражи́тельный ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · bg раздразнителен ((situation) sensitive or volatile) · ca susceptible ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · ru оби́дчивый ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · cs háklivý ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · tr kırılgan ((situation) sensitive or volatile) · de heikel ((situation) sensitive or volatile) · ru чувстви́тельный ((situation) sensitive or volatile) · unm amatamàlsi ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · tr kırılgan ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · fa زود رنج ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · cs popudlivý ((situation) sensitive or volatile) · nb hårsår ((situation) sensitive or volatile) · es touchy ((situation) sensitive or volatile) · gl espiñento ((situation) sensitive or volatile) · de empfindlich ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · es picajoso ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · pl drażliwy ((situation) sensitive or volatile) · bg чувствителен ((situation) sensitive or volatile) · it irascibile ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · sv stingslig ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · tr hassas ((situation) sensitive or volatile) · fi arkatunteinen ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · cs netýkavý ((situation) sensitive or volatile) · cs vztahovačný ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · cs podrážděný ((situation) sensitive or volatile) · ga drisíneach ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · tr nazik ((situation) sensitive or volatile) · de gereizt ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · nb irritabel ((situation) sensitive or volatile) · gl irritábel ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · tr ince ((situation) sensitive or volatile) · es quisquilloso ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · es touchy ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · de zickig ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · cs nevrlý ((situation) sensitive or volatile) · mi āritarita ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · izh arkaloontoin ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · cs urážlivý ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · bg обидчив ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · de übelnehmerisch ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · es picón ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · gl delicado ((situation) sensitive or volatile) · ca primmirat ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · it suscettibile ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · pl drażliwy ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · de reizbar ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · fi arkaluonteinen ((situation) sensitive or volatile) · fr susceptible ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · it permaloso ((person) easily offended; oversensitive) · mi whanewhane ((situation) sensitive or volatile)