thistly

adjective

Definition of thistlynext
as in prickly
having leaves or branches which are likely to cause a scratch caught her sleeve on a thistly bush

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for thistly
  1. prickly
  2. jagged
  3. thorny
  4. scratchy
Adjective
  • Of course, even a D’Angelo scratch vocal makes for a pristine chorus, especially over a Dilla groove elegantly textured with prickly guitars and burbling marimbas.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2026
  • New York City sanitation workers say their job has been pricklier than usual after the Department of Sanitation reported an increase in needle stick injuries.
    — Noelle Lilley, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of prickly
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
  • 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 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
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.

Browse Nearby Words

this
thistly
thorax
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Cite this Entry

“Thistly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thistly. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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