prickly

adjective

ˈpri-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce prickly (audio)
Definition of pricklynext
1
as in irritating
causing an unpleasant tingling sensation she tried to ignore the feel of the prickly grass against her skin

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed she dreaded having to deal with her prickly boss

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in thorny
having leaves or branches which are likely to cause a scratch waded carefully through the prickly bushes

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4
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling a prickly issue that will outrage at least one special interest if not handled delicately

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of prickly There’s also the possibility of overindulging fan excitement for beloved characters, a world where Patricia turns into a less prickly, more easily lovable character, trading her off-kilter pointiness for something smoother and more flattering. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 17 June 2026 At school, there are prickly Principal Anderson (Matt Oberg) and Donna (Amy Pietz, nice to see her), his good-hearted secretary, a champion of needy teens and, it will be revealed, Liz’s mother. — Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 Based on the bestselling novel by Bart Baker, Honeymoon with Harry follows a rough-around-the-edges man (Gyllenhaal) who ends up sharing an unwanted journey with his fiancée’s prickly, overprotective father (Costner) after a life-altering turn upends their plans. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 8 June 2026 Written and directed by Social Network scribe Aaron Sorkin, The Social Reckoning catches up with Mark Zuckerberg (Jeremy Strong) more than a decade after the original film, which saw the prickly Harvard tech genius change social media forever with the creation of Facebook. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for prickly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prickly
  1. irritating
  2. irritable
  3. thorny
  4. difficult
  5. fiery
  6. jagged
  7. sensitive
  8. scratchy
Adjective
  • Few workplace behaviors are as small, common and irritating as the message that goes unanswered.
    — Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Greenberg tried his best to ignore an irritating ankle injury that had plagued him the last couple of weeks and grimaced under the hazy sunlight as the pitcher, probably 20 or more years his junior, stared him down.
    — Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
Definition of irritating
Adjective
  • The symptoms are so delayed that people often blame them on food poisoning, irritable-bowel syndrome, gluten intolerance.
    — Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
  • Cancer could be affectionate and chatty one moment, and withdrawn and irritable the next, with little to no explanation.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026
Definition of irritable
Adjective
  • The funding of the military has become a thorny issue in the UK.
    — Philip Aldrick, Fortune, 28 June 2026
  • Whatever the outcome — sinkhole or man-made — there is an even thornier issue, according to Alyssa Peterson, a longtime community activist who was instrumental in initially organizing the weekly clean-ups.
    — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026
Definition of thorny
Adjective
  • Sarah Buck, Chicago Driving has become harder The rapid increase in bike lanes has made driving much more difficult and tedious, with numerous delays due to many streets being reduced to one lane in busy areas.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Republican strategists have welcomed those nominations as an opening for attack in a difficult election year.
    — Susan Page, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Our previous card featured the fiery destruction of the Missouri Pacific depot in 1909.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 July 2026
  • And the hottest of the bunch, the green, is a fiery combination of both jalapeños and green habaneros.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of fiery
Adjective
  • The slightest details, or the smallest bits of structure, are what stick out—what can feel like an amorphous ooze of nothingness suddenly snaps into place thanks to a rhythmic rattle or jagged vocal sample.
    — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 6 July 2026
  • Look at the jagged lines, the geometric shapes, the neon colour schemes, the tall collars, the billowing short sleeves.
    — Jack Lang, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of jagged
Adjective
  • Rescuers then wait intently for any indication of life, using sensitive microphones or telescopic cameras or simply pressing an ear against the rubble, hoping to detect a voice, a knock or the faintest movement.
    — Fernanda Pesce, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • So far, the administration has sued multiple states unsuccessfully in attempts to obtain sensitive voter-roll data to run through a federal database known as the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE, program.
    — Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 1 July 2026
Definition of sensitive
Adjective
  • Using too much detergent leaves soapy residue in fabrics, trapping dirt, bacteria, and hard water minerals, which leaves clothes looking dull, feeling stiff and scratchy, and smelling bad.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 July 2026
  • While some of my linen pieces feel scratchy, this one is ultra soft and doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin.
    — Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of scratchy

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Cite this Entry

“Prickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prickly. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of prickly for Spanish Speakers

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