Touchiest: meaning, definitions and examples
😟
touchiest
[ ˈtʌʧiɪst ]
emotionally sensitive
The term 'touchiest' is the superlative form of the adjective 'touchy,' which means overly sensitive or easily offended. A touchiest person might react strongly to criticism or feel hurt by what others consider trivial remarks. This sensitivity can manifest in various situations, particularly in personal relationships or when discussing contentious topics. Being touchiest often leads to misunderstandings and can complicate social interactions.
Synonyms
irritable, oversensitive, sensitive
Examples of usage
- He's the touchiest person in the group when it comes to jokes.
- My touchiest friend gets upset over the smallest things.
- Discussing politics with her is challenging because she's the touchiest on that subject.
Translations
Translations of the word "touchiest" in other languages:
🇵🇹 sensível
🇮🇳 संवेदनशील
🇩🇪 sensibel
🇮🇩 sensitif
🇺🇦 чутливий
🇵🇱 wrażliwy
🇯🇵 敏感な
🇫🇷 sensible
🇪🇸 sensible
🇹🇷 duyarlı
🇰🇷 민감한
🇸🇦 حساس
🇨🇿 citlivý
🇸🇰 citlivý
🇨🇳 敏感的
🇸🇮 občutljiv
🇮🇸 viðkvæmur
🇰🇿 сезімтал
🇬🇪 მგრძნობიარე
🇦🇿 həssas
🇲🇽 sensible
Etymology
The word 'touchy' originated in the late 19th century and is derived from the verb 'touch.' Its meaning evolved to describe someone or something that is easily stimulated, either physically or emotionally. The suffix '-iest' is added to form the superlative, indicating the highest degree of the quality. The roots of 'touch' can be traced back to Old English 'tōccean,' which meant 'to feel' or 'to affect.' Over time, 'touch' expanded its connotation to include emotional sensitivity, hence leading to the development of related adjectives like 'touchy.' As 'touchy' emerged in common parlance, particularly in social contexts, it often carried a negative connotation, referring to individuals who are easily offended or overly sensitive in various interactions.
Word Frequency Rank
With rank #42,663, this word is among the least frequently used in common English. Understanding it can be beneficial for comprehensive language mastery, but it's not essential for most learners.