1
as in sensitive
easily offended
he's ticklish about his looks, so it's wisest to avoid the subject altogether
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
trying to tell him that his zipper is down without embarrassing him will be a ticklish task
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ticklish
In practice, the last of these—which sounds tame, and which refers to the number of people who will be affected by the act—is probably the most morally ticklish, as any secondhand smoker can confirm.
—
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023
This is a ticklish subject, to be sure.
—Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 6 Oct. 2022
What keeps Sandy from jumping turns out to be one of Row’s cleverest, most ticklish plot devices.
—John Domini, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2023
These flip-flops just feel good — if your feet aren't ticklish, that is.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for ticklish
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023
This is a ticklish subject, to be sure.
—Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 6 Oct. 2022
What keeps Sandy from jumping turns out to be one of Row’s cleverest, most ticklish plot devices.
—John Domini, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2023
These flip-flops just feel good — if your feet aren't ticklish, that is.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for ticklish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ticklish
Adjective
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The exfiltrated data included the following browser files, which can store login cookies, passwords, browsing histories, and other sensitive data.—
Dan Goodin,
Ars Technica,
7 Mar. 2025
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The indictment alleges Tian also sent Duan links to Google Drive accounts containing sensitive information on US military weapons systems, such as Bradley and Stryker US Army fighting vehicles.—
Karina Tsui,
CNN,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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But daylight saving time throws that natural cycle a bit out of whack, and that can be particularly difficult for kids.—
Dina Roth Port,
Parents,
7 Mar. 2025
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But their happy romance is soon demolished when Jenny reappears in their lives, thrusting all three into a difficult and messy journey towards true accountability and adulthood.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Swathes of people across the world grew up with the Shrek films—and that can make sequels released decades after the original (like Shrek 5) a touchy subject.—
Callum Booth,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
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The blast of attention falls at a touchy time for Greenland.—
Maya Tekeli,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Schneider wants to take calculated risks in free agency, but that can be tough to do when Seattle is one of many teams needing interior offensive upgrades.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
The Athletic,
11 Mar. 2025
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The New York Fed survey of consumer expectations showed respondents believe tougher economic conditions are ahead.—
Courtenay Brown,
Axios,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Cold exposure is particularly helpful for those who have irritable skin through the constriction of blood vessels, alleviating swelling and flushes.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
Newsweek,
24 Feb. 2025
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The elderly single mom, played with an irritable, bone-deep bitterness by Irish actor Fiona Shaw, has spent the past few years paralyzed by an illness no one can diagnose.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Read more Tesla's share price recovers ground after tetchy start Elon Musk's claims linking Ukraine to X outage spark backlash You're Fired!—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
11 Mar. 2025
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That rivalry carried over into the UFC as Tate and Rousey coached against each other in a tetchy season of The Ultimate Fighter before Rousey defeated Tate via third-round armbar to retain her UFC bantamweight title at UFC 168.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Some of this ‘fresh stock’ is explained by such properties having hit an ancestral dead-end: many villas have been handed down through local families for generations and some are now owned by multiple grandchildren who would prefer to sell than manage a complicated ‘who stays when’ calendar.—
Lysanne Currie,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
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Hughes-Hallett effectively argues that the nature vs. nurture debate is far more complicated than its simple-minded middle school classroom avatar would allow.—
Ritesh Mehta,
IndieWire,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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While many countries, states and major companies have taken steps to ban problematic plastics and set ambitious goals for waste reduction, the collective effort is still falling far short of what's needed to stem the tide of plastic waste.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
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Gold may be a good store of value but can be problematic as a medium of exchange, particularly in breaking deflationary spirals and supporting economic growth.—
Jon Helgi Egilsson,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ticklish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ticklish. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
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