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
Early in his career, Busch could be a prickly character on the track and with the media.
—
Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
There were bladderpods just starting to put out yellow flowers, prickly Shaw agaves beside bright yellow-orange poppies, Western redbuds with round leaves, wild marigolds, clumps of Mexican rush and Howard McMinn manzanita, as well as sunset manzanita and dozens more.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2026
Cannes is meant to launch ambitious, prickly works by grandmasters and next-generation talents.
—Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
One of them is home to Sylvie (Isabelle Huppert), a prickly author who is supposed to be getting ready to move out but has instead descended into such a semi-feral state while working on her latest novel that her niece, Laurence (India Hair), hires someone to help her out.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for prickly
Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
There were bladderpods just starting to put out yellow flowers, prickly Shaw agaves beside bright yellow-orange poppies, Western redbuds with round leaves, wild marigolds, clumps of Mexican rush and Howard McMinn manzanita, as well as sunset manzanita and dozens more.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2026
Cannes is meant to launch ambitious, prickly works by grandmasters and next-generation talents.
—Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
One of them is home to Sylvie (Isabelle Huppert), a prickly author who is supposed to be getting ready to move out but has instead descended into such a semi-feral state while working on her latest novel that her niece, Laurence (India Hair), hires someone to help her out.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for prickly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prickly
Adjective
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The post carried neither hereditary title nor extraordinary fortune, and yet it was regarded with a degree of respect that many noble families found faintly irritating.—
Adam Kirsch,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2026
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And compared with stronger anti-aging ingredients like retinoids or chemical exfoliants, copper peptides are generally considered less irritating and are often well-tolerated by sensitive skin.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
They can be withdrawn or irritable.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
-
While Hockney worked, Auden, as the artist recalled, played the part of the impatient, irritable grump.—
Mark Rozzo,
Vanity Fair,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
While almost all parents reported their children were comfortable with their racial identity, navigating around thorny issues was needed.—
Geoffrey Greif,
Baltimore Sun,
11 June 2026
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Second, deregulation has saved American businesses nearly $1 trillion by cutting costs from thorny and expensive rules.—
Stephen Moore,
Boston Herald,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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The verdict was delivered amid difficult personal circumstances for Mette-Marit, Hoiby’s mother, who needs a lung transplant for pulmonary fibrosis.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
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Otherwise, those prospects start becoming large contracts that stand more difficult to move or aggregate.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
The ingredients were fresh and the balance of tangy citrus notes and fiery spices made for an unforgettable meal.—
Deeya Sonalkar,
TheWeek,
18 June 2026
-
Mamdani spoke for roughly eight minutes in a fiery speech about the history of the team, the grind to the championship, the heartbreaking seasons and the perseverance necessary to finally bring a title to New York after 53 years.—
Ryan Morik OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Irregular, edges catch oil differently, crisping into jagged, craggly bits while softer interior pockets hold onto dressing, broth, or sauce—the kind of varied texture that makes each bite its own.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
18 June 2026
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As pests crawl through it, its jagged edges scrape their exoskeletons, dehydrating and killing them.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
International migration has long been a sensitive issue in Europe, as nations grapple with an aging population and increasing anti-foreigner sentiment.—
Jamey Keaten,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
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International migration has long been a sensitive issue in Europe, as nations grapple with an aging population and increasing anti-foreigner sentiment.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
Even though modern machines and detergents have taken most of the workload out of the task, there are still some outdated laundry habits that may leave your clothes and linens looking dingy, smelling less than fresh, and feeling scratchy.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
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Cooling, smooth, and surprisingly affordable at just $6, this one upgrades scratchy hotel bedding with a softer feel while also being gentler on hair and skin overnight.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prickly. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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