1
2
as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed
she dreaded having to deal with her prickly boss
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prickly
The Federal Trade Commission under Lina Khan was notoriously prickly with respect to tech deals, aggressively scuttling transactions in ways that frustrated even notable Democrat supporters like Reid Hoffman and Mark Cuban.
—
Ari Levy,jennifer Elias, CNBC, 18 Mar. 2025
And Important Most prickly people feel as if they aren't being heard.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025
The designer teased that there will be sultry, body-hugging looks with prickly prints and comfy, padded pieces.
—Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 25 Mar. 2025
Zegler brings a fresh, prickly energy to the timeless character.
—Staff Author, EW.com, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prickly
Ari Levy,jennifer Elias, CNBC, 18 Mar. 2025
And Important Most prickly people feel as if they aren't being heard.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025
The designer teased that there will be sultry, body-hugging looks with prickly prints and comfy, padded pieces.
—Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 25 Mar. 2025
Zegler brings a fresh, prickly energy to the timeless character.
—Staff Author, EW.com, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prickly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prickly
Adjective
-
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic condition with genetic and environmental causes, whereas atopic dermatitis stems from an irritating substance that triggers a rash.—
Susan Bard,
Verywell Health,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Going Overboard with Outdoor Lighting Light pollution can be just as irritating as that dog down the street who barks like clockwork for 30 minutes every night.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
And even in what was a stilted match played in an increasingly irritable atmosphere, Rogers and Tielemans delivered with an assist each.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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This stretch can worsen pain in people with back pain, very tight hamstrings, or irritable nerves.—
Aubrey Bailey, PT, DPT, CHT,
Verywell Health,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The thorny legal issue over who gets to distribute long-running game shows Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune has an update.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
-
The bloc’s landmark legislation known as the AI Act has proven particularly thorny for companies in the rapidly growing artificial intelligence industry.—
Ryan Browne,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Third, operational command of Kamikaze planes is difficult because results cannot be evaluated with any accuracy.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Instead, the major drama comes in the form of Ivy’s corruption by her acting coach, as Ivy gradually goes method and becomes as difficult to work with as Marilyn was (one of this musical’s many meta moments).—
Christian Lewis,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Read Next World ‘Stocky’ creature with ‘fiery orange’ eyes found mating.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2025
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The sun is currently experiencing solar maximum, or the peak in its 11-year cycle, and as the sun becomes more active, researchers have observed increasingly intense solar flares and coronal mass ejections erupting from the fiery orb.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Boulders offer a jagged look For a rugged look, consider a retaining wall made from large boulders.—
Katherine McLaughlin,
Architectural Digest,
18 Apr. 2025
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All those letters are real, and all those jagged lines were the work of scissors.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Concerns have been raised about DOGE operatives, many with ties to Musk's companies, gaining access to sensitive government data without adequate oversight or experience.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
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In late March, four Taiwanese soldiers, three of whom were part of a unit that provides security for Taiwan’s Presidential Office, were jailed for up to seven years after being convicted of selling pictures of sensitive information to China.—
Eryk Michael Smith,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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It’s made from a soft alpaca wool blend, which adds tons of warmth without feeling hot or scratchy.—
Anne Taylor,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Apr. 2025
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Allergic reactions can include a scratchy throat, watery eyes, itchy skin, runny nose, and sneezing.—
Paul Smaglik,
Discover Magazine,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prickly. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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