Squeamish

/ˈskwiːmɪʃ/

Meaning & Definition

adjective
easily offended or disgusted; overly sensitive.
She was too squeamish to watch the horror movie.
having a tendency to experience nausea or discomfort at the sight of unpleasant things.
He felt squeamish at the sight of blood.
prone to emotional reactions; easily upset.
The squeamish nature of the children made them turn away from the gory scene.

Etymology

Middle English, from squeamish, meaning 'having a strong feeling of disgust'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

squeamish stomach:
A stomach that is easily upset or nauseated.
squeamish about something:
Feeling discomfort or disgust at something.

Related Words

Slang Meanings

faint-hearted
He won't go bungee jumping; he's too faint-hearted.
chicken
Don't be such a chicken about the haunted house, it's just a ride.