ticklish

Being ticklish means being very sensitive to light touch, often in a way that makes you laugh, squirm, or pull away without meaning to. It is that strange feeling when someone lightly touches your ribs, feet, neck, or underarms and your body reacts at once. Some people hardly feel it, while others burst into laughter from the smallest touch. The word is also used for situations that are delicate or hard to handle, especially when a wrong move could cause trouble or embarrassment. In both senses, the idea is the same: a strong kind of sensitivity that needs care.

The word "ticklish" most often describes someone who is very sensitive to light touch. When a ticklish person is touched in certain places, they may laugh, twist away, jerk, or squirm before they can control the reaction. Common ticklish spots include the ribs, feet, neck, and underarms, though this differs from person to person. Some people are only mildly affected, while others react strongly even to a very light touch. Part of this reaction seems to depend on surprise, which is one reason people usually cannot tickle themselves in the same way.

The word is also often used in a figurative way. A "ticklish" problem, question, or situation is one that is sensitive, awkward, or risky and must be handled with care. For example, a family argument, a political issue, or a personal question might be called ticklish if it could easily upset people or go badly. This gives the word two closely related uses: one about the body's quick reaction to touch, and one about situations that need a careful approach. In both cases, the central idea is sensitivity.