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
Relevance
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
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.
Recent Examples of prick
Liam Quinn, People.com, 23 June 2025
That’s how many people across France reported being pricked with syringes during a nationwide street music festival.
—Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 23 June 2025
Twelve suspects have been arrested in France following 145 people across the country claiming they’d been pricked with syringes during a nationwide music festival over the weekend, according to several reports published Monday.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 23 June 2025
The aftermath of Virginia’s clumsy tumble into a rose bed where her exposed cleavage is profusely pricked by thorns lasts for all of one scene.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prick
Noun
The paper reported that the investigation began when three people in Paris reported feeling unwell and said they had been pricked by a syringe.
—Liam Quinn, People.com, 23 June 2025
That’s how many people across France reported being pricked with syringes during a nationwide street music festival.
—Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 23 June 2025
Twelve suspects have been arrested in France following 145 people across the country claiming they’d been pricked with syringes during a nationwide music festival over the weekend, according to several reports published Monday.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 23 June 2025
The aftermath of Virginia’s clumsy tumble into a rose bed where her exposed cleavage is profusely pricked by thorns lasts for all of one scene.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prick
Noun
-
Henry had separated and broken ribs on his right side, blood on the left side of his rib cage, and light puncture marks on his stomach, as well as severe internal bleeding, according to a police report.—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC news,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Henry, 5, suffered internal bleeding and puncture wounds, court documents allege, WSB-TV 2 reports.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Unless your skin is very sensitive, Reedle Shot 100 is a great entry point into spicule serums, offering a 100/1,000 microneedle intensity—enough for that signature tingle without overwhelming heat.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
8 Oct. 2025
-
The microcurrent added a barely-there tingle, and the red light gave the session an almost meditative vibe.—
Francesca Krempa,
StyleCaster,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Minnesota will be aggressive filling whatever holes spring up, and Reeve has proven to be resourceful.—
Ben Pickman,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Drill small pilot holes a half inch from the sides of the board.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Elderly consumers, who might seek gentle relief for aches or the comfort of a familiar ritual, are left stranded.—
Jahan Marcu,
Rolling Stone,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The most common symptoms of flu include fever, headache, cough, sore throat and muscle aches.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Denji is bored out of his mind by most of them, but the last film is good enough to move him to tears.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Many dating app users report matching with people who were engaging while texting but boring in person, yet no studies exist that show whether chatfishers get more dates.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The friend felt a pang of preëmptive regret.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2025
-
These pangs are only compounded by the cliffhanger that concluded Season 2, in which President William Rayburn (Michael McKean) suffered a fatal heart attack and elevated his vice president, Grace Penn (Allison Janney), to the top of the call sheet.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
It is spread to people and pets through the bites and scratches of an infected animal, and first symptoms may include flu, weakness, discomfort, fever, headache, as well as a prickling sensation at the site of the wound, before turning into more severe disease after around two weeks.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Bellows from the galleries roll across the fairways and right up the necks of the competitors, prickling their hairs.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Ergofoot Orthopedic Slippers For those on my holiday list who have more sensitive and pain-prone feet, this orthopedic pair stands out from the crowd.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
-
According to my friends from STATS Perform, only six other relief pitchers in World Series history can share his pain.—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prick. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share