adj

ticklish

TIHK-lihsh

Ticklish (adj) means Easily made to laugh or squirm when touched lightly; sensitive to tickling. Example: “He's extremely ticklish under his arms.”

adj

Easily made to laugh or squirm when touched lightly; sensitive to tickling.

"He's extremely ticklish under his arms."

"She's so ticklish that she can't even fold laundry without giggling."

Requiring careful, delicate handling; touchy or tricky to deal with.

"Negotiating the merger was a ticklish business for both companies."

"It's a ticklish subject, so choose your words carefully."

How to use ticklish

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSensitive to being tickled, or (for situations) delicate and requiring careful handling.

Common pairings

a ticklish situation ticklish feet a ticklish question

Word forms

more ticklish comparative, most ticklish superlative

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He's extremely _____ under his arms.

Etymology

From "tickle" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-ish."

Frequently asked questions

What does “ticklish” mean?

The word “ticklish” means easily made to laugh or squirm when touched lightly; sensitive to tickling. In plain terms, sensitive to being tickled, or (for situations) delicate and requiring careful handling.

How do you pronounce “ticklish”?

“Ticklish” is pronounced TIHK-lihsh (/ˈtɪk(ə)lɪʃ/ in IPA).

How do you use “ticklish” in a sentence?

Here is “ticklish” used in a sentence: “He's extremely ticklish under his arms.”

What part of speech is “ticklish”?

“Ticklish” is an adjective.

How many meanings does “ticklish” have?

“Ticklish” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: easily made to laugh or squirm when touched lightly; sensitive to tickling.