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

2

: marked by prickling : stinging

a prickly sensation

3

a

: troublesome, vexatious

prickly issues

b

: easily irritated

had a prickly disposition

prickliness noun

Synonyms

• irritating
• itchy
• scratchy

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

Cha-il’s prickly attitude doesn’t soften much despite the good example set by the naïve rookie auditor Han-soo (Lee Jung-ha). —Simon Abrams, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2024

Paul is Roy, the prickly guy whose sarcastic exterior hides a soppy desire to be loved. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024

Technically, capers are the flower buds of the Capparis spinosa plant, a prickly shrub commonly found bordering the Mediterranean, in places like Morocco and Greece. —Kendra Vaculin, Bon Appétit, 16 Dec. 2024

And Chalamet rises to the challenge of capturing the prickly charisma of Dylan’s inchoate, anti-matter, read-between-the-lines personality. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing prickly

• prickly ash
• prickly heat
• prickly pear
• prickly pear cactus
• prickly pear fruit
• prickly poppy

Kids 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