tickled

IPA/tˈɪkəld/
KK[tˈɪkəld]IPA/tˈɪkəld/

tickled — adjective

  • tickledpositive
  • more tickledcomparative
  • most tickledsuperlative

1. feeling quietly amused and pleased because something seems funny, charming, or u

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

feeling quietly amused and pleased because something seems funny, charming, or unexpectedly nice.

Example

Reema was tickled by her nephew's serious thank-you note.

be tickled by + noun phrase

Grandpa looked tickled when the twins copied his dance moves.

Common collocations
  • tickled by a joke
  • tickled by a remark
  • tickled to hear the news
  • tickled that someone noticed
  • secretly tickled
Synonyms
  • amused

    the closest everyday word, but more neutral and less playfully pleased

  • pleased

    broader and more practical; it can describe satisfaction without any humorous touch

  • charmed

    warmer and more affectionate, often about someone's manner or style

  • delighted

    much stronger and more openly joyful than tickled

Antonyms
  • offended

    hurt or upset instead of pleasantly amused

  • annoyed

    mildly irritated rather than quietly pleased

Grammar Patterns

be tickled by + noun

be tickled to + verb

be tickled that + clause

Usage Note

Usually appears after be, feel, look, or seem. It often takes by, a to-infinitive, or a that-clause, and it suggests mild pleased amusement rather than loud laughter.

Common Mistakes

The rude comment left me tickled.
The rude comment left me offended.
'tickled' describes warm amusement or pleased surprise, not hurt feelings.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Tickled sits between amused and delighted. Amused simply says that something is funny, while tickled adds a warmer note of pleased surprise, often about a small remark, a kind gesture, or a charming detail. Pleased is broader and can describe ordinary satisfaction with results, food, or service, where tickled would sound too playful. Charmed often suggests affectionate admiration for a person's manner, while tickled usually points to a moment that makes you smile inwardly. Delighted is much stronger and more openly joyful than tickled.

tickled ↗amused ↗pleased ↗charmed ↗delighted ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • be tickled by something
  • be tickled to hear something
  • be tickled to learn something
  • be tickled that...
  • tickled pink

Prepositions

Etymology

Middle EnglishEnglish

This adjective comes from the past participle of the verb 'tickle'. The verb has been in English since Middle English and is probably expressive in origin, echoing the light repeated movement it describes. The adjective sense grew out of patterns like 'be tickled by a joke' and widened to mean feeling quietly amused or pleased.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a Noun