prickly
adjective
prick·ly
ˈpri-k(ə-)lē 
pricklier; prickliest
1
: full of or covered with prickles
especially
: distinguished from related kinds by the presence of prickles
3
a
: troublesome, vexatious
prickly issues
b
: easily irritated
had a prickly disposition
prickliness
noun
Examples of prickly in a Sentence
The plant's leaves are prickly.
she tried to ignore the feel of the prickly grass against her skin
Recent Examples on the Web
Technically, capers are the flower buds of the Capparis spinosa plant, a prickly shrub commonly found bordering the Mediterranean, in places like Morocco and Greece.
—
Kendra Vaculin, Bon Appétit, 16 Dec. 2024
And Chalamet rises to the challenge of capturing the prickly charisma of Dylan’s inchoate, anti-matter, read-between-the-lines personality.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Dec. 2024
Its three-season run ended Sunday night with a finale that centered the series’ two core relationships: the twin-flame friendship between Sam (Bridget Everett) and Joel (Jeff Hiller), and the occasionally prickly bond between Sam and her sister Tricia (Mary Catherine Garrison).
—Jen Chaney, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2024
Expect cold aristocrats, family secrets and a protagonist who’s refreshingly prickly and complex.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Nov. 2024
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Kendra Vaculin, Bon Appétit, 16 Dec. 2024
And Chalamet rises to the challenge of capturing the prickly charisma of Dylan’s inchoate, anti-matter, read-between-the-lines personality.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Dec. 2024
Its three-season run ended Sunday night with a finale that centered the series’ two core relationships: the twin-flame friendship between Sam (Bridget Everett) and Joel (Jeff Hiller), and the occasionally prickly bond between Sam and her sister Tricia (Mary Catherine Garrison).
—Jen Chaney, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2024
Expect cold aristocrats, family secrets and a protagonist who’s refreshingly prickly and complex.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prickly
Dictionary Entries Near prickly
Cite this Entry
“Prickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prickly. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prickly
adjective
prick·ly
ˈprik-lē
-ə-lē
pricklier; prickliest
1
: full of or covered with prickles
prickly plants
2
: marked by slight stinging or tingling
a prickly sensation
prickliness
noun
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