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
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
Researchers believe GLP-1s show promise for tackling other prickly health problems such as smoking and alcoholism.
—
Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 15 May 2026
Field’s Tova is a prickly sort.
—ABC News, 7 May 2026
Cats, for example, tend to avoid digging in areas covered with uneven, prickly materials.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
Longtime host and executive producer Jeff Probst has previously had a prickly relationship with the podcaster, who has not shied away from critiquing his favorite show over the years.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for prickly
Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 15 May 2026
Field’s Tova is a prickly sort.
—ABC News, 7 May 2026
Cats, for example, tend to avoid digging in areas covered with uneven, prickly materials.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
Longtime host and executive producer Jeff Probst has previously had a prickly relationship with the podcaster, who has not shied away from critiquing his favorite show over the years.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for prickly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prickly
Adjective
-
This is a company that built its reputation on engineering discipline, financial caution, and an almost irritating level of consistency.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
18 May 2026
-
Regulators cannot chase every irritating screen on every app and website.—
Gregory M. Dickinson,
The Conversation,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
That’s because the Moon is at odds with Mars today and everyone is irritable.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
7 May 2026
-
What are the symptoms of irritable bowel disease?—
Lindy Segal,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Kelly lost her dad in October and, along with her mom and siblings, has been navigating the often-thorny questions around what to do with old financial records, collectibles, and beloved items.—
Maggie McGrath,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
Other potentially thorny negotiations are ahead, including the agreement with LA28 about reimbursement to the city for enhanced resources, such as the costs incurred for extra police, sanitation and other city services needed for the Olympics.—
The Editorial Board,
Daily News,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Building the program had proved difficult.—
Andrew Carter,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
-
Sindcom 14-Piece Food Storage Containers Set The pantry is one of the most difficult places to organize thanks to boxes of cereal, pasta, baking ingredients, and more scattered about.—
Kelsey Fredricks,
PEOPLE,
24 May 2026
Adjective
-
Output and downtime tug hard as the intuitive Moon activates your 6th House of Work and Health, opposing fiery Mars in your 12th House of Solitude.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
28 May 2026
-
These fiery thighs are easy to make.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
The humble insects, which have jagged wings and fuzzy, thick legs, migrate every year from the Sierra Nevada to warmer coastal areas in winter, laying eggs which grow into caterpillars and eventually new butterflies.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
26 May 2026
-
Seismic images of mid-ocean ridges typically show rough and jagged terrain, formed when lava oozes up into the cold ocean along faults or fissures and hardens suddenly into stone.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
But in all these cases, unopened soda is shelf-stable and not sensitive to refrigeration cycles.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
24 May 2026
-
Raw vegetables may preserve nutrients that are sensitive to heat, while cooked vegetables can make others easier to absorb.—
Lynn Andriani,
Martha Stewart,
24 May 2026
Adjective
-
Plus, Amazon hasn’t skimped on quality with a largely cotton construction that’s comfortable to wear without feeling scratchy or rigid.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2026
-
Then came Tom Brady, who walked out on stage at first with a scratchy microphone that quickly corrected itself.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prickly. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
