touchy

adj

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.

1. 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.”

   “Eminent Americans are to be invited to direct by will their interment there; and in the case of Americans not so eminent as to be invited, but who have nevertheless expressed a wish to join the others, a committee will decide. It seems a touchy business all along...”

2. Easily offended, oversensitive.

   “He can be very touchy when you talk about his estranged son, so be as tactful as possible.”

   “I can assure you, Mr Hosier, that other people are much more touchy about my blindness than I am.”

3. Inclined to engage in physical touch.