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
But with stocks trading near record highs, markets are a little touchy.
—
John Towfighi, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
If someone does bring up the Bears, be considerate and change the subject to something less touchy, like immigration or Jeff Bezos.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Production assistants told Albuquerque police that Busfield was sometimes touchy or unprofessional.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
For the past couple of years, the housing market has been a touchy subject for many Americans.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for touchy
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
John Towfighi, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
If someone does bring up the Bears, be considerate and change the subject to something less touchy, like immigration or Jeff Bezos.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Production assistants told Albuquerque police that Busfield was sometimes touchy or unprofessional.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
For the past couple of years, the housing market has been a touchy subject for many Americans.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for touchy
Cite this Entry
“Touchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/touchy. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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
