touchy-feely

adjective

ˌtə-chē-ˈfē-lē How to pronounce touchy-feely (audio)
Definition of touchy-feelynext
as in emotional
showing feeling freely she is too touchy-feely and he is too stiff-upper-lip for their relationship to ever work out

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 touchy-feely If that strikes you as twee or downright silly, Olivia Newman‘s touchy-feely weepie is not on your wavelength. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 May 2026 That’s in contrast with Andrew’s lexicon of touchy-feely claptrap, all seemingly declarations of support and empathy but, ultimately, hollow. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026 Hereafter is ultimately too touchy-feely for its own good — too awed by its modest musings on the mystery of being alive — and the film suggests Damon isn’t so great at playing characters with a mystical bent. — Tim Grierson, Vulture, 1 Jan. 2026 Nearly a year after the duo went viral for their hilariously meme-able finger-holding moment, the Eternal Sunshine artist is addressing the fact that the costars have a very touchy-feely friendship. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for touchy-feely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for touchy-feely
  1. emotional
  2. affectionate
Adjective
  • More importantly, part two closes an emotional circle that the first one had just begun to delineate.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Spivey held an emotional service later that night in honor of the students killed.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of emotional
Adjective
  • For a quintessential Up North afternoon, head to Gabriel Farms, an 1880s farmstead with vineyards, U-pick apples and berries, and affectionate farm pups.
    — Taryn Shorr-Mckee, Midwest Living, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Veteran flight attendants with decades of experience often earn an affectionate nickname among airline crews.
    — Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of affectionate

Browse Nearby Words

touchy
touchy-feely
tough
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Cite this Entry

“Touchy-feely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/touchy-feely. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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