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
Examples 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
Thanksgiving is a particularly prickly time for anybody who is either in recovery or actively suffering from an eating disorder.
—
Natalie Eilbert, Journal Sentinel, 26 Nov. 2024
Put on a pair of gloves to protect your hands from prickly tree branches.
—Rabekah Henderson, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2024
Jess reluctantly serves as personal protection duty for the prickly target of a kidnapping attempt.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 26 Nov. 2024
In nature, most seed dispersal techniques are due to external factors – wind, animals, fire, gravity – but this remarkable little prickly go-getter native to the Mediterranean has found its own way of getting the job done.
—New Atlas, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prickly 
Natalie Eilbert, Journal Sentinel, 26 Nov. 2024
Put on a pair of gloves to protect your hands from prickly tree branches.
—Rabekah Henderson, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2024
Jess reluctantly serves as personal protection duty for the prickly target of a kidnapping attempt.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 26 Nov. 2024
In nature, most seed dispersal techniques are due to external factors – wind, animals, fire, gravity – but this remarkable little prickly go-getter native to the Mediterranean has found its own way of getting the job done.
—New Atlas, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prickly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prickly
Adjective
-
This digital friction has become so commonplace it’s become accepted as an irritating fact of digital life.Sandy Carter, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
-
Vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice can be effective and are generally less irritating.Alyssa Shaffer, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Even if a more irritable side of her personality has emerged, there’s no excuse for cruelty.R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2024
-
In worst-case scenarios, pain can cause a dog to be more irritable and aggressive, like if a human had a severe headache and couldn't tolerate social interaction, Enomoto said.Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 8 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
What message to place inside the empathy machine of cinema has become a thorny issue in India.Thomas Page, CNN, 15 Dec. 2024
-
The small Humboldt County city is contending with several thorny issues, including the possible construction of its first affordable housing development.Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
But extracting data from a phone can be extremely difficult, depending on the model of the phone and the operating system.Holly Yan, CNN, 7 Dec. 2024
-
Add Fragrance That earthy pine scent is one aspect of a real tree that is difficult to part with when making the switch to faux.Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Nix commands respect because of his work ethic, his maturity, his performance and his fiery competitiveness.Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 11 Dec. 2024
-
Crockett is an outspoken critic of Trump and his GOP allies who frequently makes headlines for her fiery remarks.Annabella Rosciglione, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The picture depicts a bustling market of shoppers and vendors, with a jagged line reminiscent of those on graphs winding through the stalls.Leslie Katz, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
-
Instead, vascular dementia began to take her down precipitously, mentally and physically, in jagged, irregular steps.Bellamy Young, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Amphibians, including frogs and salamanders, are more vulnerable, Urban found, perhaps because their habitats are more sensitive to environmental changes.Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 7 Dec. 2024
-
Hot sauce: This won't make the final dish hot, but if anyone is sensitive, it can be skipped.Nicole Hopper, Southern Living, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
His voice — raw, nasal, scratchy but full of passion, anger and wry wisdom — is near enough to the original to be unmistakable and yet colored by the actor’s persona to a degree that suggests something closer to symbiosis than impersonation.David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Dec. 2024
-
The aloe vera and shea butter nourish and soothe, leaving you with supple, fluffy hair rather than a scratchy feeling.Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 6 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near prickly
Cite this Entry
“Prickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prickly. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share