Standard Lemma guide

touchy-feely

adj · noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Having a fondness for physical contact with other people, especially to an excessive degree.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

Examples

  • My last boyfriend was a lovely guy, but I dumped him because he was too touchy-feely with me in public.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Driven by intuition or emotion, with a connotation of de-emphasis of rational thought or logic.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: derogatory, idiomatic, usually

Examples

  • He preferred the clarity of science and left the touchy-feely stuff to others.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Appealing to emotion, sympathy, or romance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: derogatory, idiomatic, usually

Examples

  • I think the movie had too much touchy-feely nonsense and not enough action.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Physical contact, typically sexual, and usually inappropriate or unwanted.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

(often derogatory) openly expressing love and affection (especially through physical contact)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.