touchily

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Word: Touchily

Part of Speech: Adverb

Definition: "Touchily" means to do something in a way that shows you are easily upset or offended. When someone acts touchily, they are sensitive about certain topics or situations and may react strongly to comments or actions that others might not find upsetting.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "touchily" to describe how someone responds to a situation or conversation when they are feeling sensitive or defensive.
• It can often imply that the person is not in a good mood or is feeling vulnerable.

Example Sentence:

• "When I asked him about his recent job loss, he touchily changed the subject."

Advanced Usage:

• In more formal writing, you might find "touchily" used to describe interactions in a professional setting where emotions are involved, such as negotiations or discussions about sensitive topics.

Word Variants:

• Touchy (adjective): Describes a person who is easily upset or sensitive, e.g., "She is very touchy about criticism."
• Touchiness (noun): The quality of being sensitive or easily offended, e.g., "His touchiness made it hard to have a straightforward conversation."

Different Meanings:

While "touchily" mainly refers to being sensitive, "touchy" can also refer to a situation that is delicate or requires careful handling, e.g., "It's a touchy subject."

Synonyms:

• Sensitive
• Irritably
• Testily
• Grumpily

Idioms:

• "Walking on eggshells": This phrase means to be very careful about how you speak or act around someone who is easily upset.
  • Example: "I felt like I was walking on eggshells around her because she gets touchily offended by everything."

Phrasal Verbs:

While there aren't specific phrasal verbs directly linked to "touchily," you might encounter phrases like: - "Touch on": To briefly mention a topic. - Example: "We can touch on that topic later, but let's not discuss it touchily now."

Summary:

"Touchily" is an adverb that describes a manner of responding that is easily offended or sensitive. It can apply to various contexts, from personal interactions to professional discussions.

Academic

Adverb

1. in a touchy manner
   • he touchily refused all offers to help