touchy

From a later variant of tachy, techy, teachie, tetchy, simulating touch +‎ -y. More at tetchy.

• IPA^(key): /ˈtʌtʃi/

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• Rhymes: -ʌtʃi

touchy (comparative touchier, superlative touchiest)

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; ticklish.

   He can be very touchy when you talk about his cat, so be as tactful as possible.

• touchy-feely

• tetchy
• touch and go

• couthy