different between uncomfortable vs touchy

English

Etymology

un- +? comfortable

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?n?k?mf.t?.b?l/, /?n?k?m.f?.t?.b?l/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?n?k?m.f?.t?.b?l/, /?n?k?mf.t?.b?l/

Adjective

uncomfortable (comparative more uncomfortable, superlative most uncomfortable)

1. Not comfortable; causing discomfort.

2. Experiencing discomfort.
3. Uneasy or anxious.

4. Put off or disgusted.

Usage notes

Although the word uncomfortable looks (etymonically) like one of its senses could be synonymous with inconsolable, it does not have that sense; the absence of that sense is simply a lexical gap. In parallel, the same is true of comfortable and consolable, as well as comfortability and consolability.

Synonyms

• ill at ease

Antonyms

• comfortable
• ergonomic

Derived terms

• uncomfortableness
• uncomfortably

Translations

English

Etymology

From a later variant of tachy, techy, teachie, tetchy, simulating touch +? -y. More at tetchy.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?t?t?i/

• Rhymes: -?t?i

Adjective

touchy (comparative touchier, superlative touchiest)

1. (of a situation) Extremely sensitive or volatile; easily disturbed to the point of becoming unstable; requiring caution or tactfulness.

   It is an extremely touchy situation, with everybody's patience wearing thin.

2. (of a person) Easily offended; oversensitive; ticklish.

   He can be very touchy when you talk about his cat, so be as tactful as possible.

Related terms

• touchy-feely

Translations

See also

• tetchy
• touch and go

Anagrams

• couthy