ticklish
Giggles when poked
Ticklish describes sensitivity to light touch that produces involuntary laughter or squirming: She's extremely ticklish on her feet.
The word extends to situations requiring delicate handling—a ticklish subject, a ticklish negotiation.
Something ticklish is easily upset or prone to difficulty: Getting the timing right is a ticklish business.
Twist from discomfort
- giggleSoft, silly vocalization
- fingertipsTerminal phalanx pads
- featherBird's body covering
- ribsThoracic bone set
underarms · feet · wriggle · flinch · twitch · poke · prod · reflexive
Difficult to handle
- sensitiveEasily affected emotionally
- difficultRequiring much effort
- awkwardLacking grace or ease
- thornyHaving sharp protrusions
precarious · dicey · touchy · problematic · complicated · knotty · sticky · risky
Excessively reactive to stimuli
- reactiveTending to respond
- tenderSoft or sore
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- responsiveQuick to react
susceptible · thin-skinned · touchy · oversensitive · hair-trigger · jumpy · twitchy · highly-strung
Playful, mild ridicule
- gigglingLaughing in short bursts
- mischievousPlayfully causing trouble
- funAmusement or pleasure
- lightheartedCheerful and without worry
silly · frolicsome · poking · prodding · squirmy · wriggly · games · roughhousing
squirm
Twist from discomfort
- giggleSoft, silly vocalization
- fingertipsTerminal phalanx pads
- featherBird's body covering
ribs · underarms · feet · wriggle · flinch · twitch · poke · prod · reflexive · involuntary
tricky
Difficult to handle
thorny · precarious · dicey · touchy · problematic · complicated · knotty · sticky · risky · fraught
hypersensitive
Excessively reactive to stimuli
responsive · susceptible · thin-skinned · touchy · oversensitive · hair-trigger · jumpy · twitchy · highly-strung
teasing
Playful, mild ridicule
- gigglingLaughing in short bursts
- mischievousPlayfully causing trouble
- funAmusement or pleasure
lighthearted · silly · frolicsome · poking · prodding · squirmy · wriggly · games · roughhousing · horseplay
ticklishnumb
Lacking physical sensation
unticklish · insensitive · desensitized · thick-skinned · unfeeling
ticklishstraightforward
Clear and uncomplicated
simple · easy · uncomplicated · unproblematic · manageable
ticklisheasygoing
Relaxed in temperament
good-natured · thick-skinned · agreeable · amiable · good-tempered
- tickling someone's fancyAppealing to someone's taste