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
Long pants are recommended to protect against some prickly plants that may be encountered.
—
Kelcie Pegher, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023
Their congenial, almost school-boyish, air and prickly banter initially evoke Netflix’s popular YA drama Heartstopper.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Aug. 2023
Despite Blinken's visit, China and the US still have dangerous gulf between them
Movement on any of these issues could help enable the two to work together on less prickly areas, experts say, but this ranges from difficult to impossible given strategic concerns and domestic circumstances.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN, 23 July 2023
In a nice full-circle touch, Henry Czerny is back as Kittridge, Ethan’s prickly CIA boss.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 July 2023
The exact location of the couple’s grave is available on Find a Grave, but prickly foxtails and weeds wielding burrs covered Jesse and Jo Ann’s gravestone.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2023
Their prickly silence gives way to a hesitant alliance once Mitsuko enlists Benson’s help in the kitchen, preparing Japanese dishes like curry rice and katsu.
—June Thomas, New York Times, 16 June 2023
There’s much to make fun of in the pretensions of a white woman leading a Buddhist group and in the prickly defensiveness of everyone around her.
—Vulture, 26 May 2023
There’s a prickly anxiety humming beneath Alaska life now, like a wildfire that travels for miles in the loamy surface of soft ground before erupting without notice into flames.
—WIRED, 15 July 2023
See More
Kelcie Pegher, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023
Their congenial, almost school-boyish, air and prickly banter initially evoke Netflix’s popular YA drama Heartstopper.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Aug. 2023
Despite Blinken's visit, China and the US still have dangerous gulf between them
Movement on any of these issues could help enable the two to work together on less prickly areas, experts say, but this ranges from difficult to impossible given strategic concerns and domestic circumstances.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN, 23 July 2023
In a nice full-circle touch, Henry Czerny is back as Kittridge, Ethan’s prickly CIA boss.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 July 2023
The exact location of the couple’s grave is available on Find a Grave, but prickly foxtails and weeds wielding burrs covered Jesse and Jo Ann’s gravestone.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2023
Their prickly silence gives way to a hesitant alliance once Mitsuko enlists Benson’s help in the kitchen, preparing Japanese dishes like curry rice and katsu.
—June Thomas, New York Times, 16 June 2023
There’s much to make fun of in the pretensions of a white woman leading a Buddhist group and in the prickly defensiveness of everyone around her.
—Vulture, 26 May 2023
There’s a prickly anxiety humming beneath Alaska life now, like a wildfire that travels for miles in the loamy surface of soft ground before erupting without notice into flames.
—WIRED, 15 July 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prickly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing prickly
Dictionary Entries Near prickly
Cite this Entry
“Prickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prickly. Accessed 27 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
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
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