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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Police said Canut hit the employee and then scratched the customer in the face and bit her hand, leaving a puncture wound.—
Meghan Schiller,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Quality stability balls use thick, durable materials that are less likely to sustain damage from tears or punctures.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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And second, there’s the audience’s uncomfortable tingle of recognition watching Vladimir Putin’s tightening stranglehold on the Russian press.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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The night seemed even darker, and a tingle ran up my spine.—
Delbert L. Chears,
Outdoor Life,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Fitzpatrick, who missed four birdie chances from inside 10 feet in a seven-hole stretch around the turn, holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-3 15th to take the lead, only for Lipsky — playing in the group behind him — to make a 7-foot birdie on the 14th to catch him.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
22 Mar. 2026
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Steak knives are one of those kitchen items that get pigeon-holed into the niche tool category thanks to their name.—
Emily Johnson,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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People may initially have fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or muscle aches.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
20 Mar. 2026
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Mpox symptoms include a sometimes painful, blistery rash on various parts of the body, fever, chills, exhaustion, muscle aches, headache, swollen lymph nodes and respiratory symptoms, according to the CDC.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Ferm Living’s Danish influence extends to their throw pillows, which are classic but far from boring.—
Blake Bakkila,
Architectural Digest,
26 Mar. 2026
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The four-time NBA champion has tricked out his trusty Whoop with a Poubel charm, bringing a bit of his signature swag to otherwise boring wearable tech.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The book cover trend, imbued with nostalgia for childhood, promises fiction that grapples with the pangs of adulthood in an age of precarity.—
Maddie Connors,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
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Minnesota fans may have had some mild pangs over parting with Buium or Rossi, but a mid- to late-20s pick for arguably the best defenseman on the planet?—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Retatrutide has shown similar side effects, as well as a prickling sensation known as dysesthesia.—
Meg Tirrell,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
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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
Noun
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Initially the pain is pretty severe, but after a little bit it kind of winds down.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
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The Environmental Protection Agency issued emergency waivers to allow E15 gasoline sales, which is otherwise only allowed for part of the year due to environmental concerns, in an effort to ease pain at the gas pump earlier this week.—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prick. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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