touchy
UK: ˈtʌtʃi | US: ˈtʌtʃi
adj. easily offended or irritated; oversensitive
adj. requiring careful handling; delicate or risky
The word "touchy" originated in the late 16th century, derived from the verb "touch" (from Old French tochier, ultimately Latin toccare) combined with the adjectival suffix "-y." The original sense was "apt to touch" or "tactile," but by the early 17th century, it evolved to mean "easily irritated" or "oversensitive," metaphorically extending the idea of being "quick to react to touch." The suffix "-y" here conveys a tendency or characteristic, as seen in words like "itchy" or "grumpy." The semantic shift reflects how physical sensitivity was analogized to emotional reactivity.
She’s very touchy about criticism, so choose your words carefully.
The negotiations are at a touchy stage—one wrong move could ruin the deal.
He’s always been touchy about his height, so avoid joking about it.
Politics is a touchy subject at family gatherings.
The boss is in a touchy mood today; don’t bring up any problems.