thinnerskinned

Thinnerskinned is a colloquial neologism used to describe a person who is exceptionally sensitive to criticism or negative feedback, more so than the usual description of being thin-skinned. The term combines thinner (the comparative of thin) with a skin-related metaphor to emphasize heightened vulnerability to critique. It is not widely documented in formal dictionaries and is mainly found in online discussions, blogs, and lighthearted writing.

Origins and usage notes

The exact origin is unclear, but thinner-skinned variants appear in informal discourse in the 2000s and 2010s. It can be written as thinnerskinned, thinner-skinned, or thinner skinned, depending on author preference and context. The tone ranges from playful exaggeration to pointed criticism, and the term is typically reserved for informal settings rather than scholarly or professional writing.

Connotations and context

Thinnerskinned signals a stronger-than-average sensitivity to feedback. It can be used descriptively to characterize someone’s reaction to critique, or pejoratively to tease someone for overreacting. In professional environments, the term is more likely to be received as mocking or dismissive rather than constructive commentary.

Examples

- "He’s thinner-skinned about code reviews than anyone I know."

- "Public criticism hit her hard; people started calling her thinner-skinned than most teammates."

Related terms

Related concepts include thin-skinned, hypersensitive, and defensiveness. The term often overlaps with slang such as snowflake in some contexts, though the latter carries broader cultural connotations.

See also

Thin-skinned; hypersensitivity; defensiveness; snowflake.