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 Santa Cruz teen lifeguard Ryder Williams got a close-up view of the president’s prickly relationship with the press during a White House visit Monday. — Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026 The California Native Plant Society says the prickly bunchgrass’ stalks grow up to 3 feet. — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 18 Aug. 2026 The spiny, prickly leaves of Oregon grape holly start bronze-red in the spring, then turn green and become purple-red in the winter. — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 13 Aug. 2026 Faith King and Josiah Fagerstrom both deliver delightfully prickly repartee as their characters gradually manage to surpass archetype. — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 10 Aug. 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
  • Mars in your sign challenges disciplined Saturn, creating the deeply irritating experience of feeling motivated and blocked at the same time.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Brands that connect those steps—or simply remove one irritating point of friction—can create disproportionate value.
    — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of irritating
Adjective
  • The product immediately calmed down my irritable, rosacea-prone skin while delivering intense hydration that lasted all day.
    — Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 31 Aug. 2026
  • How skipping breakfast affects kids at school Nemours KidsHealth reports that kids who miss the morning meal often feel tired, restless or irritable by midmorning.
    — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of irritable
Adjective
  • This is surely not the end of this thorny issue, and as tech continues to advance, this will be an important job category to watch.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Most Popular For many women with endometriosis, beauty is a thorny thing.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of thorny
Adjective
  • The losses linked to the demise of these groups are difficult to quantify, but participants and advocates say the impacts will reverberate across federal agencies for years.
    — Katia Riddle, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Ground surveys can provide more detailed information at a particular site, but covering an entire subway corridor that way would be difficult.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Jeffries, a cautious Brooklynite poised to become speaker, must juggle fiery progressives, restive moderates and backlash over a Jared Kushner meeting while preaching Pelosi-style discipline and teamwork.
    — Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The Clippers released a fiery statement slamming the findings, though the team has little recourse to appeal.
    — Chris Branch, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of fiery
Adjective
  • Ragged, jagged or fluffy edges point to a Bristol Type 6 stool, meaning waste moved through the colon too fast for water to be absorbed properly.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Nepal is a country of jagged, towering peaks with sheer slopes sweeping down to narrow valleys, cut through by powerful rivers.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of jagged
Adjective
  • Government debt makes up more than 200% of its gross domestic product, leaving its finances highly sensitive to rising borrowing costs.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • In addition to pressure, the team demonstrated that the same basic glass platform could also be made sensitive to temperature.
    — Pawel Maniewski, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of sensitive
Adjective
  • The sound quality is scratchy; the camerawork is nauseating, and not in a chicly experimental way.
    — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
  • And many people feel a teaspoon of honey or perhaps tea with honey can soothe a scratchy throat.
    — Sheah Rarback, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 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 5 Sep. 2026.

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