as in to pierce
to cause or experience an unpleasant feeling that is like the feeling of having many small, sharp points against your skin
The burrs were prickling my arm. The wool sweater prickled my skin.
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Recent Examples of prickle
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Mar. 2024
Paul Leonard-Morgan’s score is haunting and foreboding, making the hairs on the back of our neck prickle.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 16 Mar. 2023
Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
One tower looks like a concrete satellite, another like a Dyson fan, and the tallest is prickled with reflective lights, like the ones that keep airplanes off oil rigs.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for prickle
Verb
The guitar riff prickles nervously; the melody pleads in the manner of a hungry pet; Parton sings, in a trembling tone, about the woman who could and very well might take her man.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Mar. 2024
Paul Leonard-Morgan’s score is haunting and foreboding, making the hairs on the back of our neck prickle.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 16 Mar. 2023
Noun
Jakobus speaks in an Old World dialect, Pilsner, delivering brisk herbal aromas, hints of fresh levain bread and a prickling hop bitterness.
—Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
One tower looks like a concrete satellite, another like a Dyson fan, and the tallest is prickled with reflective lights, like the ones that keep airplanes off oil rigs.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for prickle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prickle
Verb
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While the rest of his body was a meandering ghost, his eyes were molten rage-arrows piercing the other people onstage.—
Betty Gilpin,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Oct. 2025
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Her jacket featured side lace-up details, while her pants had piercing-like details.—
Renan Botelho,
Footwear News,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The lawmakers will urge the administration to support federal workers and prevent a spike in health care costs, which are the reason most Senate Democrats have opposed reopening the government.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
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Brennan, Cecere and Caburian all agree that confidence took its biggest spike over the last week.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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My neighbors started poking their heads in the front door, too.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
14 Oct. 2025
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This bra has wide straps, side-smoothing panels, and an allover stretchy fit — sans wires poking you in the ribcage.—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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After exchanging very sharp barbs in the press, Osbourne and Ward didn’t communicate for a full decade.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
7 Oct. 2025
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Kimmel and Damon have playfully traded barbs over the past two decades since that moment, roping others like Ben Affleck, Sarah Silverman, and Tom Brady into their shenanigans.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Chiefs have been on the wrong side of fourth-quarter closeness this year (0-3 after Monday night’s slippery loss, which had to sting).—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
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The production was plagued by hurricanes, tsunami warnings, stinging jellyfish and several injuries — including Costner, who almost died while riding out a storm stranded atop a mast after his safety line had snapped.—
Peter Kiefer,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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It’s also completely sold out on the Madewell website, so this is a rare snag.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
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However, there remain several potential snags.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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There are also plenty of films to tickle your funny bone, like Austin Powers, Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, Daddy Day Care, and more, all landing on October 1. Also landing on Netflix throughout the month are new seasons of The Diplomat, Love is Blind, and Nobody Wants This.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Our version includes a little bit of a soft drink like Dr. Pepper to really tickle those Texan taste buds.—
Mary Alice Russell,
Southern Living,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The sticker pack includes all nine organizations, so everyone gets a chance to feel included.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
10 Oct. 2025
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The actress also shared a photo of Tove standing on a director's chair in her lilac set, with another heart sticker covering her face.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prickle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prickle. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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