1
as in puncture
a mark or small hole made by a pointed instrument
the immunization shot left a prick on my arm that turned into a bruise
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in tingle
a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body
she felt a sharp prick when the nurse gave her the shot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prick
Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 4 Dec. 2025
She was connected to an IV with insulin, her fingers repeatedly pricked to test blood glucose.
—Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2025
The curious cats will keep their eyes wide open and ears pricked forward.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
Citing the French Interior Ministry, Le Monde reported that 145 people across France reported being pricked.
—Liam Quinn, People.com, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prick
Verb
Beyond the myriad complications that come with diabetes, patients have to additionally put up with regular blood sugar testing – which involves either multiple pin pricks a day to draw blood or wearing a continuous glucose monitor patch that needs to be replaced every couple of weeks.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 4 Dec. 2025
She was connected to an IV with insulin, her fingers repeatedly pricked to test blood glucose.
—Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2025
The curious cats will keep their eyes wide open and ears pricked forward.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
Citing the French Interior Ministry, Le Monde reported that 145 people across France reported being pricked.
—Liam Quinn, People.com, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prick
Noun
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Meanwhile, high-wear areas—like the pack bottom and dorsal panels—feature a puncture-resistant 420-denier HD Nylon.—
Corey Buhay,
Outside,
3 Mar. 2026
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Even if the majority of drones and missiles are intercepted, the ones that puncture defenses can cause deadly damage.—
Jane Lytvynenko,
NBC news,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In the true spirit of Sámi, and more specifically, joiking, Barruk’s work is intended to be felt fully, a tingle from the top of your head down to your toes.—
Erika Owen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Feb. 2026
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There's a tingle in the air, right?—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The posts included more than a dozen images that showed bruises and other wounds on her body, holes in the wall and broken cabinets.—
Jane Harper,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
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Pierce holes in the cake so that the Bourbon Glaze can soak in.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea, nausea and stomach pain, body aches, headache and fever.—
Steven Rosenbaum,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
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Based on a novel by Sally Rooney, the show captures the quiet ache of two people drawn to each other despite the obstacles that keep pulling them apart.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For instance, if a textbook bores you, try watching a documentary!—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
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This just proves why schemers are so much more entertaining than boring ass Joe.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The album’s Bandcamp blurb shouts out Ghédalia Tarzatès, the late French composer who collaged his wails and lamentations in the endangered Ladino language to evoke pangs of existential angst.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
6 Feb. 2026
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Everyone’s blood sugar levels sporadically spike, and that’s normal, but keeping it steady helps prevent energy crashes, hunger pangs, and mood swings, Dardarian says.—
Julia Ries Wexler,
Outside,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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An awareness of absent ancestors prickles through her writing, but at the same time, her fictional worlds feel solid and present.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
17 Feb. 2026
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Warning signs of frostbite include: Cold skin A prickling sensation Numbness Skin that appears discolored or looks different than normal Hard or waxy-looking skin Muscle stiffness.—
Isa Almeida,
Oklahoman,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Despite major medical advances in non-opioid pain care, Medicare’s pricing structure still places generic opioids at the lowest cost tier, while safer non-opioid medications carry copays 10 to 20 times higher.—
Saul Anuzis,
Boston Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
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The pain fell hardest on all-female founding teams, which posted steeper drops in both deal value and count than mixed-gender cohorts, continuing a now multi-year divergence.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prick. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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