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
1
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."
2
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 notesIn plain EnglishSensitive to being tickled, or (for situations) delicate and requiring careful handling.
Common pairings
a ticklish situation
ticklish feet
a ticklish question
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more ticklish
- Superlative
- most ticklish
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He's extremely _____ under his arms.
Etymology
From "tickle" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-ish."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
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.
