adj
ticklish
TIHK-lihsh
adj
1
Easily made to laugh or squirm when touched lightly; sensitive to tickling.
"He's extremely ticklish under his arms."
"She's so ticklish that she can't even fold laundry without giggling."
2
Requiring careful, delicate handling; touchy or tricky to deal with.
"Negotiating the merger was a ticklish business for both companies."
"It's a ticklish subject, so choose your words carefully."
How to Use Ticklish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSensitive to being tickled, or (for situations) delicate and requiring careful handling.
Common pairings
a ticklish situation
ticklish feet
a ticklish question
Word Forms
more ticklish comparative, most ticklish superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “ticklish”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He's extremely _____ under his arms.
Etymology
From "tickle" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-ish."