strike a nerve
Touch raw spot
To strike a nerve is to touch on something that provokes a strong emotional reaction, usually because it hits close to a sensitive truth or personal vulnerability: I must have struck a nerve when I mentioned her ex.
The image is of accidentally hitting an exposed nerve, causing unexpected pain.
Also touch a nerve, hit a nerve.
Incite a response
- irritateCause mild anger
- offendCause hurt feelings
- agitateDisturb or provoke
- upsetDisturb, topple, or shock
anger · infuriate · disturb · perturb · rile · incense · enrage · irk
Easy to identify with
- truthAccordance with reality
- recognitionPerceiving something as known
- hit homeAffected someone personally
- ring trueSeem authentic or credible
resonate · connect · visceral · gut reaction · emotional response · identify · empathy · mirror
Easily upset or offended
- rawIn original state
- sore spotSensitive topic or area
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- exposedOut in open
tender · painful · personal · defensive · guarded · prickly · thin-skinned · reactive
Split into opposition
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
- divisiveCausing sharp disagreement
- provocativeMeant to provoke response
- inflammatoryTending to provoke outrage
backlash · outrage · heated · debate · clash · friction · pushback · uproar
provoke
Incite a response
upset · anger · infuriate · disturb · perturb · rile · incense · enrage · irk · vex
relatable
Easy to identify with
- truthAccordance with reality
- recognitionPerceiving something as known
- hit homeAffected someone personally
ring true · resonate · connect · visceral · gut reaction · emotional response · identify · empathy · mirror · reflect
touchy
Easily upset or offended
- rawIn original state
- sore spotSensitive topic or area
- vulnerableOpen to attack
exposed · tender · painful · personal · defensive · guarded · prickly · thin-skinned · reactive · hypersensitive
polarize
Split into opposition
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
- divisiveCausing sharp disagreement
- provocativeMeant to provoke response
inflammatory · backlash · outrage · heated · debate · clash · friction · pushback · uproar · firestorm
strike a nervesoothe
Gently ease discomfort
calm · reassure · put at ease · comfort · pacify
strike a nervefall flat
Fail to impress
miss the mark · leave someone cold · go in one ear and out the other · go over someone's head · bounce off
strike, strikes, struck, striking, striker, strikers, stricken, nerve, nerves