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If someone is touchy, it means that they are sensitive; easily offended, upset, or irritated. A touchy person is easily provoked and ready to take offense over even the smallest thing.
“Be careful what you say to Steven, he’s very touchy.”
“Sorry, I didn’t know you were so touchy. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
A person can be touchy in general or they can be touchy about a particular subject.
“He’s touchy about his past drug use. You’d better not bring it up.”
The word touchy can also describe a subject or a situation.
We say ‘a touchy subject’ or ‘a touchy situation.’
When something is touchy it needs to be dealt with carefully; it requires care and caution.
“My brother’s incarceration is a touchy subject in my family.”
“It’s a touchy situation when people who work together get romantically involved.”
Touchy is also used to describe body parts that are sensitive to touch or that are easily irritated and cause pain when touched.
“How does your arm feel?” “It’s touchy but it’s getting better.”
Touchy can also mean highly flammable or easily ignited.
“You have to be careful with this chemical, it’s very touchy.”
The word techy is sometimes used to replace touchy. It sounds like a slang version of touchy but it is actually a very old word with the same meaning. Techy may be, in fact, the etymological origin of touchy.
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