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
3
a
: troublesome, vexatious
prickly issues
b
: easily irritated
had a prickly disposition
prickliness
noun
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
Trapped in a prickly relationship with a cactus, his life changes overnight when Swift sprays herself with Opalite and is magically transported into his living room.
—
Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 2026
Surrounded by vast desert, the long and windy road that leads to Nancy Guthrie’s home in the Catalina Foothills is dotted with prickly cacti and attractive houses.
—Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
The prickly exchange went viral and prompted bipartisan criticism and questioning of her temperament.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026
The film traces Rushdie’s life and career — starting with his childhood in India — deftly blending archival material, interviews, animation, images and film clips to reveal a prickly intellectual mellowed by time and experience.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prickly
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Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 2026
Surrounded by vast desert, the long and windy road that leads to Nancy Guthrie’s home in the Catalina Foothills is dotted with prickly cacti and attractive houses.
—Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
The prickly exchange went viral and prompted bipartisan criticism and questioning of her temperament.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026
The film traces Rushdie’s life and career — starting with his childhood in India — deftly blending archival material, interviews, animation, images and film clips to reveal a prickly intellectual mellowed by time and experience.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prickly
Cite this Entry
“Prickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prickly. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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