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
At a distance many of these plants appear fluffy, with a bushiness that upon closer inspection reveals hundreds, likely thousands, of prickly spines.
—
Von Diaz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Dec. 2025
Brooks’s years honing his craft writing prickly characters and witty repartee ensures that not all of this scans as mindless escapism.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 10 Dec. 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was a bit prickly with the media on Sunday after the team’s 27-22 win over the Baltimore Ravens, which put them back into first place in the AFC North.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 8 Dec. 2025
Their mini-dramas are full of combustible moments and prickly comedy, but Baumbach ultimately lands on a touching optimism about the power of family ties and the possibility of reconciliation.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prickly
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.
Von Diaz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Dec. 2025
Brooks’s years honing his craft writing prickly characters and witty repartee ensures that not all of this scans as mindless escapism.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 10 Dec. 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was a bit prickly with the media on Sunday after the team’s 27-22 win over the Baltimore Ravens, which put them back into first place in the AFC North.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 8 Dec. 2025
Their mini-dramas are full of combustible moments and prickly comedy, but Baumbach ultimately lands on a touching optimism about the power of family ties and the possibility of reconciliation.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prickly
Cite this Entry
“Prickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prickly. Accessed 17 Dec. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share