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
Animals have evolved many different ways of protecting themselves, from prickly quills and razor-sharp teeth to clever camouflage and sturdy shells.
—
Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Mar. 2025
Akio — a prickly, ambitious kid with a short backstory that includes being abandoned by his mother — dreams of shooting up through the rankings to fame and glory.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2025
Colorful flower buds, prickly bundles of herbs and stakes supporting leafy produce fill the garden.
—Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025
With a blunt cut (editing by Yang Hongyu), we are plunged into the goings-on of Film City, where Fang Di battles with a prickly director asking her to do another take of an action sequence.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prickly
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Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Mar. 2025
Akio — a prickly, ambitious kid with a short backstory that includes being abandoned by his mother — dreams of shooting up through the rankings to fame and glory.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2025
Colorful flower buds, prickly bundles of herbs and stakes supporting leafy produce fill the garden.
—Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025
With a blunt cut (editing by Yang Hongyu), we are plunged into the goings-on of Film City, where Fang Di battles with a prickly director asking her to do another take of an action sequence.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prickly
Cite this Entry
“Prickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prickly. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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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