1. difficult to handle; requiring great tact - delicate negotiations with the big powers - hesitates to be explicit on so ticklish a matter - a touchy subject • Syn: delicate, ticklish • Similar to: difficult, hard 2. quick to take offense • Syn: huffy, thin-skinned, feisty • Similar to: sensitive • Derivationally related forms: touchiness, huffiness (for: huffy)