touchy

A variant of earlier tetchy (“cranky, easily annoyed, difficult to handle”), under influence from some senses of touch (“affect, disturb”) and simulating touch +‎ -y.

• IPA^(key): /ˈtʌt͡ʃi/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ʌtʃi

touchy (comparative touchier, superlative touchiest)

1. (of a situation) Extremely sensitive or volatile; easily disturbed to the point of becoming unstable; requiring caution or tactfulness.

   It is an extremely touchy situation, with everybody's patience wearing thin.

2. (of a person) Easily offended, oversensitive.

   He can be very touchy when you talk about his cat, so be as tactful as possible.

   • 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Bridge, Command Deck, SSV Normandy:

     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.

3. (informal) Inclined to engage in physical touch.

   Synonym: touchy-feely

   Antonym: untouchy

• (extremely sensitive): tetchy, delicate, touch and go
• (easily irritated): tetchy, irritable, irascible, cranky

• touchiness

• touchy-feely

• couthy