tetchy

adjective

ˈte-chē

tetchier; tetchiest

: irritably or peevishly sensitive : touchy

the tetchy manner of two women living in the same house

Elizabeth Taylor †1975

tetchily

ˈte-chə-lē How to pronounce tetchy (audio)

adverb

tetchiness

ˈte-chē-nəs How to pronounce tetchy (audio)

noun

Did you know?

One of the first cited uses of tetchy occurs in William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet (1596). Etymologists are not certain how the word came about, but some have suggested that it derives from tetch, an obsolete noun meaning "habit." The similarity both in meaning and pronunciation to touchy might lead you to conclude that tetchy is related to that word, but there is no conclusive evidence to suggest such a connection. The adjectives teched and tetched, meaning "mentally unbalanced," are variations of touched, and are probably also unrelated to tetchy.

Example Sentences

a morose and tetchy resident of a nursing home

Recent Examples on the Web During Wednesday’s tetchy question-and-answer session in Parliament, few Conservative lawmakers said Mr. Johnson should be fired.

Max Colchester, WSJ, 25 May 2022 Diagnosis can be a tetchy subject in neurodiversity.

Nancy Doyle, Forbes, 31 Jan. 2022 For all the tetchy lockdown sparring in between these scenes, there’s finally something to be said for togetherness.

Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Oct. 2021 No wonder Biden is tetchy when asked about the subject.

Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2021 The travel show in which a tetchy British comedian joins celebrities on jaunts to various international locales?

Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2020 But pursuing less tetchy relations with China, the policy of the KMT for decades, is becoming ever less marketable.

The Economist, 13 June 2020 Some of the friction — never mind the crises at hand — may also stem from tetchy personal relations.

Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2020 In 2017, parts of Silver Springs State Park had to be shut down because the monkeys were getting tetchy about human visitors.

Brigit Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Feb. 2020 See More

单词	tetchy
释义	tetchy adjective ˈte-chē tetchier; tetchiest : irritably or peevishly sensitive : touchy the tetchy manner of two women living in the same house Elizabeth Taylor †1975 tetchily ˈte-chə-lē adverb tetchiness ˈte-chē-nəs noun Did you know? One of the first cited uses of tetchy occurs in William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet (1596). Etymologists are not certain how the word came about, but some have suggested that it derives from tetch, an obsolete noun meaning "habit." The similarity both in meaning and pronunciation to touchy might lead you to conclude that tetchy is related to that word, but there is no conclusive evidence to suggest such a connection. The adjectives teched and tetched, meaning "mentally unbalanced," are variations of touched, and are probably also unrelated to tetchy. Synonyms huffy thin-skinned ticklish touchy See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences a morose and tetchy resident of a nursing home Recent Examples on the Web During Wednesday’s tetchy question-and-answer session in Parliament, few Conservative lawmakers said Mr. Johnson should be fired. Max Colchester, WSJ, 25 May 2022 Diagnosis can be a tetchy subject in neurodiversity. Nancy Doyle, Forbes, 31 Jan. 2022 For all the tetchy lockdown sparring in between these scenes, there’s finally something to be said for togetherness. Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Oct. 2021 No wonder Biden is tetchy when asked about the subject. Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2021 The travel show in which a tetchy British comedian joins celebrities on jaunts to various international locales? Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2020 But pursuing less tetchy relations with China, the policy of the KMT for decades, is becoming ever less marketable. The Economist, 13 June 2020 Some of the friction — never mind the crises at hand — may also stem from tetchy personal relations. Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2020 In 2017, parts of Silver Springs State Park had to be shut down because the monkeys were getting tetchy about human visitors. Brigit Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Feb. 2020 See More Word History Etymology perhaps from obsolete tetch habit First Known Use 1596, in the meaning defined above tetchy adjective as in irritable easily offended a morose and tetchy resident of a nursing home Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance irritable huffy sensitive touchy ticklish thin-skinned testy snappish peevish grumpy irascible grouchy petulant oversensitive hypersensitive waspish stroppy crotchety supersensitive cantankerous querulous crabby snippy pettish curmudgeonly choleric dyspeptic snarky ornery cranky surly disagreeable short-tempered bilious ill-tempered tender stuffy raspy cross ill-humored prickly snippety cross-grained quick-tempered ill-natured perverse ratty snappy bearish Antonyms & Near Antonyms amiable agreeable unconcerned easygoing relaxed thick-skinned carefree good-natured good-tempered obliging forbearing well-disposed understanding happy-go-lucky long-suffering See More
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tetchy

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

adjective