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 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 The Social Democrats, led by Kurt Schumacher, a prickly figure who had suffered horribly for resisting the Nazis, were mistrustful of the United States and hoped to reunify Germany as a neutral state at the center of Europe. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 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 The only new face that does demand a lot of attention so far is a prickly new assistant coach, Alice (an excellent Tanya Reynolds). — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 5 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
  • His irritating habit of starting each meeting with the ping of a bell reinforces his personality.
    — Oline Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The larger battery gives it the sort of range that makes an EV genuinely useful for long-distance driving, while the interior avoids some of the irritating touchscreen-heavy trends found elsewhere.
    — Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of irritating
Adjective
  • 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
  • Skipping meals can negatively affect blood sugar levels and leave you feeling hungry, irritable, and unable to pay attention.
    — Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of irritable
Adjective
  • Even the most adept communicators can struggle with the monumental task of messaging such a thorny, systemic and ever-changing issue.
    — Jamil Wyne, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • In addition to training operators, the Pentagon will need to embed knowledgeable engineers, data scientists, and legal advisers to help senior military leaders navigate thorny issues relating to human-AI interaction on the battlefield.
    — Emelia S. Probasco, Foreign Affairs, 20 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
  • Kusama, known for her fiery red wig, lived by choice in a Tokyo psychiatric hospital for decades.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • In humans and other animals the isothiocyanates stimulate sensory receptors in the mouth and nose, resulting in a peppery, pungent flavor that is often described as sharp rather than fiery.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 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
  • Those could include remote sensors, autonomous underwater vehicles and other equipment that requires persistent, low-visibility power in remote and sensitive offshore and coastal environments, as well as power resiliency for forward military bases.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Musk’s officials infiltrated department after department, canceling contracts, firing employees, viewing sensitive data, and kneecapping programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as foreign aid.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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