touchy

Etymology

A variant of earlier tetchy (“cranky, easily annoyed, difficult to handle”), under influence from some senses of touch (“affect, disturb”) and simulating touch + -y.

adj

  1. (of a situation) Extremely sensitive or volatile; easily disturbed to the point of becoming unstable; requiring caution or tactfulness.
    It is an extremely touchy situation, with everybody's patience wearing thin.
  2. (of a person) Easily offended, oversensitive.
    He can be very touchy when you talk about his cat, so be as tactful as possible.
    Ashley: Look at the size of that ship! Kaidan: The Ascension. Flagship of the Citadel fleet. Joker: Well, size isn't everything. Ashley: Why so touchy, Joker? Joker: I'm just saying you need firepower, too. 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Bridge, Command Deck, SSV Normandy
  3. (informal) Inclined to engage in physical touch.

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