Touchy: meaning, definitions and examples

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touchy

[ˈtʌtʃi ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

emotional

Easily offended or upset; oversensitive.

Synonyms

defensive, irritable, sensitive.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
touchy	Used to describe someone who is easily upset or offended. This word often implies that the person can be emotionally reactive and is likely to become annoyed by small things. Be careful what you say around Jenny; she's really touchy about that subject. Today's discussion seemed to make him quite touchy.
sensitive	Used to describe someone who is easily affected emotionally, either positively or negatively. This word often implies a deeper emotional response to stimuli. He's very sensitive, so please be kind with your feedback. Her sensitive nature makes her a wonderful friend, though she sometimes takes things to heart.
irritable	Describes someone who becomes easily annoyed or angered, often due to external factors like stress or lack of sleep. This word conveys a temporary state of being. After working so many hours, she became quite irritable and short-tempered. The noise from construction always makes me irritable.
defensive	Typically used when someone feels the need to protect themselves from criticism or attack, often resulting in behavior that seems self-justifying or protective. He got very defensive when I asked about his project progress. There's no need to get defensive; we are just trying to help.

Examples of usage

He's so touchy, you have to be careful what you say around him.
I try not to bring up politics with her because she can be touchy about it.

^{Context #2 | Adjective}

difficult

Difficult to deal with or handle; delicate.

Synonyms

delicate, sensitive, tricky.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
touchy	Used when discussing subjects or topics that can easily upset or offend someone. Be careful, that topic is touchy for him. Discussing religion can be touchy.
tricky	Applicable when describing situations or tasks that are complex or difficult to manage. Solving this puzzle is tricky. Planning the event is tricky with so many variables.
sensitive	Used to refer to people or topics that react strongly to emotions or can be hurt easily. She's very sensitive about her work. The issue of pay increases is a sensitive one.
delicate	Best used when referring to situations or matters that require careful handling or can easily break. This is a delicate situation; we need to handle it with care. The negotiations are delicate and require patience.

Examples of usage

The situation is very touchy, so we need to approach it carefully.
She's always been touchy about her personal space.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word 'touchy' originated in the late 19th century, stemming from the verb 'touch' meaning to affect someone emotionally.
It was first documented in English as a way to describe someone as sensitive or likely to get offended.
Earlier uses of the word sometimes indicated someone who was physically touch-sensitive or delicate.

Psychology

Individuals described as touchy may have heightened emotional responses due to past experiences or personality traits.
Psychology explains that certain people may be more touchy in situations of stress, reflecting their comfort levels and coping mechanisms.
Being touchy can be linked to emotional intelligence, where sensitivity to others' feelings can lead to strong reactions.

Pop Culture

Characters in films often portray touchy personalities for comedic effect, highlighting how easily they get flustered.
Social media discussions can quickly escalate when someone is described as touchy, showing its relevance in today’s communication.
In reality TV, contestants are often labeled as touchy, creating drama and tension in relationships among the cast.

Communication

The way someone phrases their opinions can determine how touchy a conversation becomes, emphasizing the importance of tone.
Many touchy topics in discussions include personal beliefs, politics, and emotional experiences, often needing careful navigation.
Active listening is key when dealing with touchy subjects to avoid misunderstandings and hurt feelings.

Literature

In novels, touchy characters provide depth, often struggling with their sensitivities which drive their development throughout the story.
Classical literature frequently explores themes of emotional sensitivity, allowing readers to empathize with touchy protagonists.
Poets often use the concept of being touchy to delve into human emotions and vulnerabilities, making their work relatable.

Translations

Translations of the word "touchy" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sensível

🇮🇳 संवेदनशील

🇩🇪 empfindlich

🇮🇩 sensitif

🇺🇦 чутливий

🇵🇱 drażliwy

🇯🇵 敏感な (びんかんな)

🇫🇷 susceptible

🇪🇸 sensible

🇹🇷 hassas

🇰🇷 민감한

🇸🇦 حساس

🇨🇿 citlivý

🇸🇰 citlivý

🇨🇳 敏感的 (mǐngǎn de)

🇸🇮 občutljiv

🇮🇸 viðkvæmur

🇰🇿 сезімтал

🇬🇪 მგრძნობიარე

🇦🇿 həssas

🇲🇽 sensible

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,493, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

...
24490 crystallography
24491 structuralism
24492 divined
24493 touchy
24494 vacuole
24495 saccharine
24496 grille
...