Feely

/ˈfiːli/ adjective

Definition

Touchy-feely; characterized by emotional expression, sentimentality, or emphasis on feelings rather than logic.

Etymology

From 'feel' (Old English 'felan') + '-y' (adjectival suffix). This informal construction became popular in the 1960s-70s during the human potential movement.

Kelly Says

Feely' was a term of mild mockery in the 1970s for the California self-help movement—it's fascinating how language captures generational attitudes toward emotion and authenticity.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.