thin-skinned

IPA/ˌθɪn ˈskɪnd/
IPA/ˌθɪn ˈskɪnd/

thin-skinned — adjective

1. If someone is thin-skinned, even a small joke or mild criticism feels like a per

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

If someone is thin-skinned, even a small joke or mild criticism feels like a personal attack.

Example

Joaquín is too thin-skinned to laugh at mild jokes about his haircut.

too thin-skinned to + verb

Tara sounded thin-skinned when she argued over one harsh comment online.

thin-skinned after a single critical remark

Common collocations
  • thin-skinned about criticism
  • too thin-skinned to take a joke
  • thin-skinned politician
  • thin-skinned reaction
Synonyms
  • touchy

    more conversational; often suggests quick irritation

  • oversensitive

    slightly more neutral and less vivid

  • sensitive

    broader word that can also be positive in other contexts

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

thin-skinned about + noun

too thin-skinned to + verb

Usage Note

Usually sounds critical rather than sympathetic. It often appears with 'too' or 'so' when someone cannot take jokes, feedback, or public criticism well.

Common Mistakes

My hands are thin-skinned after winter.
The skin on my hands is thin after winter.
'thin-skinned' usually describes feelings, not literal skin.
He is thin-skinned to comments about his accent.
He is thin-skinned about comments on his accent.
use 'about' for the topic that upsets the person.

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Thin-skinned', 'touchy', and 'oversensitive' all describe people who react too strongly to criticism, but they are not identical. 'Thin-skinned' is the most vivid and often sounds judgmental, especially in writing about politicians, celebrities, or managers who cannot handle public comments. 'Touchy' is more conversational and often points to quick irritation in a particular moment. 'Oversensitive' is broader and slightly more neutral; it can even sound mildly clinical. 'Sensitive' is the broadest word of all and may be positive in other contexts, such as being sensitive to other people's feelings. If you want to stress that remarks seem to wound someone immediately, 'thin-skinned' is the sharpest choice.

thin-skinned ↗touchy ↗oversensitive ↗sensitive ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • thin-skinned politician
  • thin-skinned manager
  • thin-skinned performer

Adverbs

  • too thin-skinned
  • painfully thin-skinned
  • surprisingly thin-skinned

Phrases

  • be thin-skinned about criticism
  • too thin-skinned to take a joke
  • seem thin-skinned in interviews

Prepositions

  • thin-skinned about
  • too thin-skinned for

Etymology

Old EnglishOld NorseEnglish

Built in English from 'thin' and 'skinned', from 'skin'. The literal image is of someone with so little protective covering that even light contact hurts. That picture gave rise to the figurative meaning of being easily wounded by jokes, criticism, or unfriendly remarks.

First known use

1598

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1