tickling
Laughter-inducing contact
Tickling is light, repeated touching that produces an involuntary twitching sensation, often with laughter.
It works best in sensitive spots—underarms, feet, ribs—and typically requires another person; tickling yourself rarely works.
The sensation hovers between pleasure and discomfort: Stop tickling me!
Something that tickles your fancy appeals to you.
Slight stinging sensation
- prickleTiny sharp point
- featherlightExtremely light, weightless-feeling
- brushBristled cleaning tool
- caressGentle loving touch
fingertip · skin · nerve · shiver · itch · goosebumps · squirm · twitch
Not under conscious control
knee · neck · palm · hypersensitive · flinch · recoil · defensive · anticipation
Soft, silly vocalization
- squealShrill, piercing cry
- chortleGleeful, breathy laugh
- snickerStifled, scornful laugh
- cackleHarsh, shrill laugh
guffaw · howl · snort · titter · convulsive · uncontrollable · breathless · tears
Playful, mild ridicule
- mischievousPlayfully causing trouble
- frolicsomeInclined to merriment
- impishPlayfully mischievous in manner
- prankishFond of tricks
roughhousing · wrestling · chase · pounce · ambush · siblings · childhood · bedtime
Causing mild irritation
- bothersomeCausing mild annoyance
- aggravatingCausing irritation or worsening
- persistentContinuing despite difficulty
- naggingPersistent bothering or complaining
distracting · maddening · relentless · incessant · unwanted · torment · nuisance · pestering
tingle
Slight stinging sensation
- prickleTiny sharp point
- featherlightExtremely light, weightless-feeling
- brushBristled cleaning tool
caress · fingertip · skin · nerve · shiver · itch · goosebumps · squirm · twitch · sensitive
involuntary
Not under conscious control
soles · knee · neck · palm · hypersensitive · flinch · recoil · defensive · anticipation · vulnerable
giggle
Soft, silly vocalization
cackle · guffaw · howl · snort · titter · convulsive · uncontrollable · breathless · tears · shriek
teasing
Playful, mild ridicule
- mischievousPlayfully causing trouble
- frolicsomeInclined to merriment
- impishPlayfully mischievous in manner
prankish · roughhousing · wrestling · chase · pounce · ambush · siblings · childhood · bedtime · game
annoying
Causing mild irritation
- bothersomeCausing mild annoyance
- aggravatingCausing irritation or worsening
- persistentContinuing despite difficulty
nagging · distracting · maddening · relentless · incessant · unwanted · torment · nuisance · pestering · unbearable
- kid comedyknock-knock jokes, potty humor, poop jokes, silly faces, funny faces
- roughhousingroughhouse, roughhousing, rough play, rough and tumble, horseplay
- sibling rivalrybickering, fighting, arguing, teasing, tattling
- skin sensationstingling, stinging, burning, itching, numbness
- funamusement, entertainment, excitement, joy, merriment
- kids playplaytime, playing, board games, blocks, card games
ticklingangering
Causing strong irritation
upsetting · distressing · terrifying · enraging · saddening
ticklingboring
Failing to engage interest
unexciting · dulling · unstimulating · repelling · displeasing
- tickling someone's fancyAppealing to someone's taste