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.
Related Words
Relevance
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 prickle
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Mar. 2024
My skin got that proper prickle.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2021
Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 2 Dec. 2024
But the comedy brings flabbiness, too, the pace slackening, with not enough prickling tension between them.
—The Week Uk, theweek, 26 Sep. 2024
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
My skin got that proper prickle.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2021
Noun
People may also notice a discomfort, prickling or itching sensation at the site of the bite, the government agency said, adding that these symptoms can remain for several days.
—Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 2 Dec. 2024
But the comedy brings flabbiness, too, the pace slackening, with not enough prickling tension between them.
—The Week Uk, theweek, 26 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for prickle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prickle
Verb
-
She was found on the ground near the lifeguard stand with an umbrella stake that had pierced the front of her left shoulder and was sticking out the back of her arm by about 1 foot, Asbury Park Fire Chief Kevin Keddy told ABC News.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
25 June 2025
-
The scepter pierced the ground of the Huanacaure mountain, and so rose the glimmering empire of Cuzco.—
Ana Karina Zatarain,
New Yorker,
21 June 2025
Noun
-
On Friday, the VIX—Wall Street’s fear gauge—fell 7.9% after Thursday’s spike on war talk.—
Ian Mount,
Fortune,
20 June 2025
-
This was during an era that featured a lot of dirty play, such as the sharpening of spikes and stepping on first basemen.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2025
Verb
-
Progress with Canada has been a roller coaster, with the U.S. president poking at the nation’s northern neighbor and repeatedly suggesting it would be absorbed as a U.S. state.—
Michelle L. Price,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2025
-
Johnson immediately returned to social media Wednesday night to post a series of rambling videos discussing his arrest and seemingly poking at Rogan without addressing him directly.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
Gayle nearly always has a nasty comment or barb and picks someone to fight with at every family gathering.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
9 June 2025
-
The barbs are the latest chapter in a long-running, often personal feud between Trump and Newsom, who have clashed repeatedly over everything from the governor’s response to recent wildfires to water policy to California’s high-speed rail.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
9 June 2025
Verb
-
What to know: Free to enter; no lifeguards or facilities and the salty water can sting cuts or irritate sensitive skin.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2025
-
The Atlanta Braves have won consecutive series since dropping six in a row, though losing Sunday’s series finale to the Rockies despite Grant Holmes’ 15 strikeouts stung.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
16 June 2025
Noun
-
But despite his popularity in the heavily Democratic state, Newsom’s governorship has continued to hit snags.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
12 June 2025
-
But both hit snags in May as fiscal reality set in.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
9 June 2025
Verb
-
Others are more tickled by his celebrity status and seem eager to hang out with him.—
Stephen Farber,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2025
-
There’s a certain je ne se quais about the character's foul-mouthed antics that have tickled audiences to their rotten cores.—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
15 June 2025
Noun
-
Save a transparent sticker of your shareable stats to your camera roll.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
17 June 2025
-
In a break from traditional instant cameras that rely on expensive self-developing paper and chemicals, this model includes two rolls of thermal paper and one roll of thermal sticker paper, allowing kids to print up to 165 photos out of the box without the mess or the wait.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
15 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prickle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prickle. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share