hair-trigger
Needing minimal provocation
Hair-trigger describes something that responds to the slightest provocation or pressure.
The literal sense is a gun trigger requiring minimal force to fire.
Figuratively, it characterizes quick, often excessive reactions: a hair-trigger temper, hair-trigger reflexes.
The hyphen is standard but sometimes dropped.
Easily provoked to anger
- irascibleProne to outbursts
- fieryIntensely hot or passionate
- cholericEasily provoked to anger
- volatileLiable to sudden change
explosive · quick-tempered · mercurial · touchy · testy · irritable · petulant · cantankerous
Excessively reactive to stimuli
- jumpyNervously reactive to stimuli
- skittishProne to nervous fright
- twitchyNervously prone to spasms
- edgyTense and irritable
nervous · startled · overreactive · hair-raising · on-edge · wired · keyed-up · high-strung
Prone to sudden detonation
- precariousDangerously insecure
- unstableProne to sudden change
- riskyInvolving possible harm
- perilousFraught with danger
hazardous · dicey · tinderbox · minefield · brink · precipice · flashpoint · critical
Burn the outside
- hammerTool for striking nails
- actionProcess of doing
- springRecoiling metal spiral
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
pistol · revolver · rifle · safety · catch · release · cocked · double-action
Heedless or skin irritation
- recklessCarelessly ignoring danger
- hastyExcessively quick, ill-considered
- precipitateHeadlong and reckless
- knee-jerkInstinctive and unconsidered
unthinking · headlong · abrupt · sudden · split-second · instantaneous · automatic · reflexive
Persistent apprehensive distress
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- strainExcessive stretching force
- pressureForce upon contact
apprehension · unease · agitation · suspense · anticipation · charged · fraught · high-wire
hotheaded
Easily provoked to anger
volatile · explosive · quick-tempered · mercurial · touchy · testy · irritable · petulant · cantankerous · quarrelsome
hypersensitive
Excessively reactive to stimuli
edgy · nervous · startled · overreactive · hair-raising · on-edge · wired · keyed-up · high-strung · jittery
explosive
Prone to sudden detonation
- precariousDangerously insecure
- unstableProne to sudden change
- riskyInvolving possible harm
perilous · hazardous · dicey · tinderbox · minefield · brink · precipice · flashpoint · critical · crisis
sear
Burn the outside
sensitivity · pistol · revolver · rifle · safety · catch · release · cocked · double-action · single-action
rash
Heedless or skin irritation
- recklessCarelessly ignoring danger
- hastyExcessively quick, ill-considered
- precipitateHeadlong and reckless
knee-jerk · unthinking · headlong · abrupt · sudden · split-second · instantaneous · automatic · reflexive · instinctive
anxiety
Persistent apprehensive distress
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- strainExcessive stretching force
pressure · apprehension · unease · agitation · suspense · anticipation · charged · fraught · high-wire · knife-edge
- hot-temperedhotheaded, quick-tempered, fiery, volatile, explosive
- reactivereactive, excitable, volatile, high-strung, jumpy
- overreactionsoverreaction, meltdown, tantrum, hissy fit, freakout
- tightnesstight, taut, snug, constricting, compressed
- readinessready, prepared, set, alert, primed
hair-triggerinsensitive
Unaware of others' emotions
unresponsive · inert · desensitized · unreactive · dead
hair-triggerdeliberate
Consciously chosen, not accidental
measured · considered · calculated · cautious · restrained