hypersensitive
Too easily hurt
Hypersensitive describes an excessive or exaggerated response to something, whether physical or emotional.
In medical contexts, it refers to an immune system that overreacts to substances most people tolerate, as in allergies or autoimmune conditions.
More broadly, hypersensitive characterizes someone who takes offense easily or reacts strongly to criticism: She's hypersensitive about her weight, so don't mention it.
The word implies that the sensitivity exceeds what the situation warrants.
Easily hurt by remarks
- touchyEasily upset or offended
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- fragileEasily broken or damaged
temperamental · reactive · wounded · insecure · self-conscious · neurotic · moody · easily offended
Respond disproportionately to something
- exaggerateOverstate beyond truth
- flare-upSudden recurrence of symptoms
- inflameIntensify emotion or irritation
- irritateCause mild anger
aggravate · provoke · volatile · trigger · hair-trigger · disproportionate · escalate · blow up
Severe systemic allergic reaction
- antihistamineDrug blocking allergic response
- allergenImmune response trigger
- pollenFloral reproductive grains
- dustFine settled particles
hives · epinephrine · asthma · immunotherapy · wheezing · sneezing · rhinitis · eczema
Excessively aroused sensorially
- overwhelmedDefeated by sheer volume
- heightenedIncreased in degree
- acuteIntensely severe or perceptive
- amplifiedIncreased in strength
photophobia · sensory overload · misophonia · fibromyalgia · migraine · startle response · tactile · stimulus
Adjusted to perceive
- intuitiveKnown without reasoning
- empatheticFeeling what others feel
- discerningHaving keen judgment
- perceptiveQuick to understand
aware · receptive · observant · picking up on · nuance · reading between lines · hyperaware · vigilant
Adjusting for measurement accuracy
- sensorInput-detecting device
- detectionAct of finding something
- instrumentDevice for specific tasks
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
measurement · threshold · feedback · amplification · gain · signal · detector · spectrometer
thin-skinned
Easily hurt by remarks
- touchyEasily upset or offended
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
- vulnerableOpen to attack
fragile · temperamental · reactive · wounded · insecure · self-conscious · neurotic · moody · easily offended · prickly
overreact
Respond disproportionately to something
- exaggerateOverstate beyond truth
- flare-upSudden recurrence of symptoms
- inflameIntensify emotion or irritation
irritate · aggravate · provoke · volatile · trigger · hair-trigger · disproportionate · escalate · blow up · explosive
anaphylaxis
Severe systemic allergic reaction
- antihistamineDrug blocking allergic response
- allergenImmune response trigger
- pollenFloral reproductive grains
dust · hives · epinephrine · asthma · immunotherapy · wheezing · sneezing · rhinitis · eczema · urticaria
overstimulated
Excessively aroused sensorially
- overwhelmedDefeated by sheer volume
- heightenedIncreased in degree
- acuteIntensely severe or perceptive
amplified · photophobia · sensory overload · misophonia · fibromyalgia · migraine · startle response · tactile · stimulus · threshold
attuned
Adjusted to perceive
- intuitiveKnown without reasoning
- empatheticFeeling what others feel
- discerningHaving keen judgment
perceptive · aware · receptive · observant · picking up on · nuance · reading between lines · hyperaware · vigilant · alert
calibration
Adjusting for measurement accuracy
- sensorInput-detecting device
- detectionAct of finding something
- instrumentDevice for specific tasks
precision · measurement · threshold · feedback · amplification · gain · signal · detector · spectrometer · photosensitive
- hyper-hyperactive, hyperlink, hyperbole, hypertension, hyperspace
- sensitivitydesensitization, touchiness, sensory threshold, photosensitivity, sensory processing
- reactivereactive, excitable, volatile, high-strung, jumpy
- emotionaldramatic, hysterical, weepy, tearful, melodramatic
hypersensitivethick-skinned
Resistant to criticism
insensitive · callous · impassive · unflappable · unfeeling
hypersensitivehyposensitive
Diminished response to stimuli
insensitive · tolerant · resistant · unreactive · immune
hypersensitivethick-skinned
Resistant to criticism
resilient · undefensive · receptive · secure · self-assured