thin-skinned

adjective

ˈthin-ˌskind How to pronounce thin-skinned (audio)
Definition of thin-skinnednext
as in sensitive
easily offended she only laughed at the teasing, but a more thin-skinned person would have gotten angry

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of thin-skinned This year, however, multiple high level sources said the conglomerates are particularly thin-skinned about the scathing Cannes critics. — Brent Lang, Variety, 16 May 2026 Players and coaches have become maddeningly mealy-mouthed, striving to avoid upsetting agents, sponsors, owners, fans, thin-skinned politicians, and whoever else might object. — Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026 In what neatly encapsulates the uncomfortable, rude, thin-skinned yet cruel, sarcastic and ultimately juvenile communication style of his online brood, the leader of the pack started with — what else — Lawrence’s looks. — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026 What to Store in a High-Humidity Crisper The high-humidity drawer should contain thin-skinned or leafy vegetables that are prone to wilting or losing moisture quickly, such as asparagus, fresh herbs, and greens. — Frances Kim, Martha Stewart, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thin-skinned
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thin-skinned
  1. sensitive
  2. irritable
  3. tetchy
  4. touchy
  5. huffy
  6. ticklish
Adjective
  • To avoid this sensitive date, pre-orders are now predicted to start on Saturday, September 12th.
    — David Phelan, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Capricorn December 22 – January 19 A sensitive conversation can support your reputation when handled well.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of sensitive
Adjective
  • Bill Murray plays Phil Connors, an irritable, cynical weatherman sent to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to report a story about the town’s quaint groundhog ceremony.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Whether a balanced market can be achieved with competing cartels will be an interesting experiment in a sometimes-irritable trade relationship.
    — Tim Treadgold, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of irritable
Adjective
  • And then an ignominious end to her Indian Wells title defense, which saw her cursing at the crowd after a tense, tetchy loss to Kateřina Siniaková in her second match.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 2 June 2026
  • In the first week of testimony, Musk took the stand and couldn’t help but get tetchy.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 20 May 2026
Definition of tetchy
Adjective
  • The question of making a living as an end-of-life doula can be touchy.
    — Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Though the conflict is over four decades old, the subject is a touchy one whenever England and Argentina have taken the pitch for the last 40-plus years.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2026
Definition of touchy
Adjective
  • Ben Green’s thumping bass leads to huffy breathing, which leads to bone-snapping drum machine rhythms and an ectoplasmic elastic guitar riff.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Eleven hours into this 15-hour shift, most of the attending’s best qualities — his pragmatic approach to medicine, his encouragement of young colleagues, his ability to roll with unexpected challenges — have curdled into huffy dismissiveness and defensive blind spots.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of huffy
Adjective
  • By combining literacy with something welcoming and familiar like food, Cruz hopes to make the ticklish topic more approachable.
    — Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
  • But all that interest, here, also can generate another ticklish dynamic.
    — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 8 May 2026
Definition of ticklish

Browse Nearby Words

thins
thin-skinned
third rail
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Cite this Entry

“Thin-skinned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thin-skinned. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on thin-skinned

Nglish: Translation of thin-skinned for Spanish Speakers

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