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
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
While the touchy Moon in your 12th House of Contemplation conflicts with overbearing Pluto in your partnership zone, your unmet need for a moment of solitude risks ruining your mood.
—
Tarot.com, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2024
Attorneys general have long been assigning touchy subjects to outside actors — under Richard M. Nixon, George W. Bush and, yes, Donald Trump.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 15 July 2024
Faith in Vice President Harris The first question from a reporter hit a touchy subject that has lately consumed Democrats, which is if Biden's reluctance to leave the race has anything to do with a lack of faith in Vice President Kamala Harris to beat Trump in 2024.
—Phillip M. Bailey, The Courier-Journal, 12 July 2024
While today's launch was certainly a success, ESA is a bit touchy on the subject of Ariane.
—David Szondy, New Atlas, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for touchy 
Tarot.com, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2024
Attorneys general have long been assigning touchy subjects to outside actors — under Richard M. Nixon, George W. Bush and, yes, Donald Trump.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 15 July 2024
Faith in Vice President Harris The first question from a reporter hit a touchy subject that has lately consumed Democrats, which is if Biden's reluctance to leave the race has anything to do with a lack of faith in Vice President Kamala Harris to beat Trump in 2024.
—Phillip M. Bailey, The Courier-Journal, 12 July 2024
While today's launch was certainly a success, ESA is a bit touchy on the subject of Ariane.
—David Szondy, New Atlas, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for touchy
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'touchy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near touchy
Cite this Entry
“Touchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/touchy. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
touchy
adjective
touchier; touchiest
1
: easily hurt or insulted
2
: calling for tact or careful handling
a touchy subject
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share