Tetchy: meaning, definitions and examples
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tetchy
[ ˈtɛtʃi ]
emotional state
The term 'tetchy' refers to a person who is easily irritated or annoyed. It describes a state of being touchy or a little bit short-tempered. Generally, a tetchy person may react defensively over minor issues or situations. This could be due to stress, tiredness, or simply a short fuse that day. It can also imply a lack of patience and a tendency to take offense quickly.
Synonyms
grumpy, irritable, peevish, snappy, touchy.
Examples of usage
- She became tetchy after a long day at work.
- He's a bit tetchy when he hasn't had his coffee.
- The tetchy customer complained about everything.
Translations
Translations of the word "tetchy" in other languages:
🇵🇹 irritadiço
- nervoso
- sensível
🇮🇳 चिड़चिड़ा
- झगड़ालू
- चिढ़चिढ़ा
🇩🇪 reizbar
- nervös
- empfindlich
🇮🇩 mudah tersinggung
- sensitif
- cepat marah
🇺🇦 дратівливий
- норовливий
- чутливий
🇵🇱 drażliwy
- nerwowy
- wrażliwy
🇯🇵 イライラした
- 神経質な
- 敏感な
🇫🇷 irritable
- nerveux
- sensible
🇪🇸 irritable
- nervioso
- sensible
🇹🇷 huysuz
- sinirli
- duygusal
🇰🇷 짜증나는
- 예민한
- 신경질적인
🇸🇦 عصبي
- حساس
- متهيج
🇨🇿 nervózní
- drážděný
- citlivý
🇸🇰 nervózny
- dráždivý
- citlivý
🇨🇳 易怒的
- 敏感的
- 发脾气的
🇸🇮 dražljiv
- nervozni
- občutljiv
🇮🇸 pirrandi
- nervós
- sensitive
🇰🇿 тосын
- ашулы
- сезімтал
🇬🇪 ნერვიული
- მომაბეზრებელი
- გრძნობადი
🇦🇿 hirsli
- sinirli
- hissiyatlı
🇲🇽 irritable
- nervioso
- sensible
Etymology
The word 'tetchy' originated in the early 19th century, possibly as a variant of the word 'touchy', which also denotes sensitivity or irritability. It may have roots in the Middle English word 'tecche', meaning to touch lightly, which hints at the fragile nature of a tetchy person's emotional state. The usage of 'tetchy' suggests a close association with mood swings or quick tempers, often characterized by minor provocations leading to significant reactions. Throughout its history, 'tetchy' has retained its meaning related to irritability and sensitivity, illustrating a common human experience of emotional fluctuations that can arise in various situations. Its informal usage became popular in English-speaking countries, contributing to its presence in everyday language.
Word Frequency Rank
Ranking #39,284, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.
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