PRICKLY Synonyms: 164 Similar and Opposite Words

prickly

adjective

ˈpri-k(ə-)lē

Definition of prickly

as in irritating

causing an unpleasant tingling sensation she tried to ignore the feel of the prickly grass against her skin

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in irritable

easily irritated or annoyed she dreaded having to deal with her prickly boss

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in thorny

having leaves or branches which are likely to cause a scratch waded carefully through the prickly bushes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 In Lourdes, Leo will be reminded of a prickly abuse case inherited from Pope Francis. — ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026 The film doesn’t canonize Heumann, instead showing her as dedicated leader who is also prickly, brash, and set in her ways. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026 Those perfectly pungent elements rip through the savory pastrami perfectly, infusing every bite with a slightly prickly tang. — Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 9 Sep. 2026 Every so often, the British writer-director Mike Leigh makes a movie in which the stars — and the tartly casual dramatic scenes — line up, coalescing into a full-on vision of prickly humanity. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prickly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prickly

Adjective

For home-office equipment, networking hardware, 3D printers, and other devices where unexpected shutdowns are costly or irritating, the Elite 300 can serve a dual purpose rather than sit unused until the next blackout.

— Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
That tiny gesture may explain why secret copying can feel especially irritating.

— Alesandra Dubin, Glamour, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of irritating

Adjective

Could be because for much of the running time, Abrams’ Jay Gardiner is up against what looks like a very large irritable sphincter.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
Coach There’s no better feeling than walking into your last show of the day, irritable and hungry, only to discover that snacks are being served.

— Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of irritable

Adjective

Trump has since tried to find an off-ramp to the war in Iran, but Israel’s actions made such peace deal talks thorny.

— Chad de Guzman, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
And although the lack of communication between the family and the foundation has sowed its fair share of discord, the situation is a bit thornier than that.

— Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of thorny

Adjective

The problem, Snegovaya said, is that achieving military autonomy for Europe and Ukraine is extremely difficult in the short term, and Europe has been slow to develop the necessary capabilities.

— Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026
Past changes have pushed the glacier into a retreat that may be difficult to reverse, while new modeling suggests scientists may have underestimated how warm seawater reaches beneath it.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of difficult

Adjective

Bongulo Paneer — cooked in bamboo, served with a coconut and capsicum poriyal that blends peanut chutney, acidic gongura sour cream and fiery gunpowder.

— Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026
An 18-year-old Ida resident was killed after a fiery crash on Thursday morning in Monroe County, Michigan.

— Paula Wethington, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of fiery

Adjective

Every fall wardrobe needs a denim jacket, and this design feels smooth and stretchy rather than stiff and scratchy.

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2026
The look is crisp, angular, and metallic, with lots of straight lines and slender silhouettes, and sits in pleasing contrast alongside luscious velvet and scratchy linen, rough stone, warm terracotta, or grainy timber.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of scratchy

Browse Nearby Words

prickling

prickly

pricks

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Prickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prickly. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of prickly

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes