oversensitive
Easily hurt feelings
Oversensitive describes someone who reacts too strongly to criticism, slights, or emotional stimuli—taking offense or feeling hurt more easily than most people would consider reasonable.
The word carries a note of judgment: calling someone oversensitive implies their reactions are excessive rather than justified.
Don't be so oversensitive; I was only joking.
It can also describe physical sensitivity, as when skin is oversensitive to touch or sunlight.
Easily upset or offended
- thin-skinnedEasily hurt by remarks
- easily offendedProne to taking umbrage
- hypersensitiveExcessively reactive to stimuli
- temperamentalEasily upset, unpredictable
moody · irritable · prickly · defensive · insecure · fragile · reactive · overemotional
Adversely reactive to substances
- reactiveTending to respond
- irritableEasily provoked to annoyance
- hypersensitiveExcessively reactive to stimuli
- intolerantRejecting differing beliefs
photosensitive · rashes · inflammation · hives · itchy · raw · tender · sore
Easily influenced or harmed
- impressionableEasily influenced or affected
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- fragileEasily broken or damaged
- exposedOut in open
unguarded · open · tender-hearted · soft · raw · unprotected · naive · trusting
Responding beyond what's warranted
- alarmistOne who overstates threats
- paranoidUnreasonably suspicious of others
- suspiciousInclined to distrust
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
guarded · wary · mistrustful · jumping to conclusions · overanalyzing · catastrophizing · anxious · worried
Excessively conscious of surroundings
- acuteIntensely severe or perceptive
- heightenedIncreased in degree
- keenSharp or enthusiastic
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
attuned · perceptive · intuitive · empathic · responsive · alert · vigilant · discerning
touchy
Easily upset or offended
- thin-skinnedEasily hurt by remarks
- easily offendedProne to taking umbrage
- hypersensitiveExcessively reactive to stimuli
temperamental · moody · irritable · prickly · defensive · insecure · fragile · reactive · overemotional · dramatic
allergic
Adversely reactive to substances
- reactiveTending to respond
- irritableEasily provoked to annoyance
- hypersensitiveExcessively reactive to stimuli
intolerant · photosensitive · rashes · inflammation · hives · itchy · raw · tender · sore · painful
susceptible
Easily influenced or harmed
- impressionableEasily influenced or affected
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- fragileEasily broken or damaged
exposed · unguarded · open · tender-hearted · soft · raw · unprotected · naive · trusting · permeable
overreactive
Responding beyond what's warranted
- alarmistOne who overstates threats
- paranoidUnreasonably suspicious of others
- suspiciousInclined to distrust
defensive · guarded · wary · mistrustful · jumping to conclusions · overanalyzing · catastrophizing · anxious · worried · apprehensive
hyperaware
Excessively conscious of surroundings
- acuteIntensely severe or perceptive
- heightenedIncreased in degree
- keenSharp or enthusiastic
sharp · attuned · perceptive · intuitive · empathic · responsive · alert · vigilant · discerning · astute
- sensitivityhypersensitivity, hypersensitive, desensitization, touchiness, insensitive
- reactivereactive, excitable, volatile, high-strung, jumpy
- overreactfreak out, panic, explode, blow up, meltdown
- immaturityimmature, childish, juvenile, infantile, puerile
oversensitivethick-skinned
Resistant to criticism
insensitive · callous · numb · uncaring · indifferent
oversensitivetough
Durable and strong
resilient · strong · hardy · robust · unflappable
oversensitiveinsensitive
Unaware of others' emotions
desensitized · numb · unresponsive · tolerant · hyposensitive