touchy feely

Physically demonstrative type

Touchy-feely describes people or approaches that emphasize emotional expression and physical contact—hugging, hand-holding, sharing feelings.

Often mildly dismissive: I'm not into all that touchy-feely stuff.

Can characterize therapy, management styles, or personalities perceived as overly warm or insufficiently rational.

Sometimes hyphenated, sometimes not.

Related

warm-hearted · heart to heart · empathetic · soft skills · new age · close-knit · tactile · personal space · compassionate · tenderhearted · caring · personable · affectionate · cuddly · nurturing · intuitive · intimate · caressing

Opposites
emotional expressiveness

touchy feelyreserved

Restrained in manner

distant · stoic · buttoned-up · cold · aloof

physical affection

touchy feelyhands-off

Not directly involved

standoffish · distant · untouchable · cold · frigid

interpersonal warmth

touchy feelycold

Low temperature state

icy · frosty · chilly · forbidding · uninviting

Family

touch, touchy, touched, touching, touches, touchable, untouchable, toucher, feel

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG