thin-skinned

adjective

ˈthin-ˌskind How to pronounce thin-skinned (audio)
Synonyms of thin-skinnednext
1
: having a thin skin or rind
thin-skinned oranges
2
: unduly susceptible to criticism or insult : touchy

Synonyms

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Examples of thin-skinned in a Sentence

she only laughed at the teasing, but a more thin-skinned person would have gotten angry
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
At the same time, Barnes was a crank of operatic grandiosity—thin-skinned, bellicose, distrustful, fickle, and vindictive. — Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025 Beyond the drinks and the jokes, one of the hardest lessons he’s learned is how thin-skinned artists can be—especially when the cameras are rolling. — Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 29 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of thin-skinned was in 1598

Rhymes for thin-skinned

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Browse Nearby Words

thin skin
thin-skinned
thin-skinnedness
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Cite this Entry

“Thin-skinned.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thin-skinned. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

thin-skinned

adjective
ˈthin-ˈskind
1
: having a thin skin
thin-skinned oranges
2
: easily bothered by criticism or insult

More from Merriam-Webster on thin-skinned

Nglish: Translation of thin-skinned for Spanish Speakers

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