tetchy

or tech·y

[ tech-ee ]

adjective

, tetch·i·er, tetch·i·est.

1. irritable; touchy.

tetchy

/ ˈtɛtʃɪ /

adjective

1. being or inclined to be cross, irritable, or touchy

Derived Forms

• ˈtetchily, adverb
• ˈtetchiness, noun

Other Words From

• tetchi·ly adverb
• tetchi·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tetchy¹

1585–95; origin uncertain; tetched, -y ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of tetchy¹

C16: probably from obsolete tetch defect, from Old French tache spot, of Germanic origin

Example Sentences

One source said the talks at times were “fraught and tetchy”.

From BBC

Maybe it was the mood music around the England team that made coach Brendon McCullum tetchy the day before this first Test in Pakistan.

From BBC

It was Trump who ended the night with a bead of sweat on his upper lip and the tetchy demeanor of someone whose antagonist had clearly burrowed under his skin.

From Los Angeles Times

With the home support a bit tetchy and in no mood for Christmas cheer, the big man was booed.

From BBC

This matters because conventional wisdom suggests MPs who are a little tetchy and grumpy, and prone to plotting, are better off not in Westminster.

From BBC